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Jersey's ambulance service has launched a safety campaign after seeing a 550% increase in assaults on its staff over the past four years.
The States of Jersey Ambulance Service has logged 26 incidents of violence, aggression and intimidation so far in 2024, which is more than the total reported cases in the previous two years combined.
There were 14 reported incidents in 2023 and just seven in 2022. In comparison, there were only five incidents in 2021 and four in 2020.
Pictured: Chief Ambulance Officer Peter Gavey.
The service is highlighting the abuse as part of an awareness campaign to enable staff to work without fear of attack.
In a statement, Chief Ambulance Officer Peter Gavey said: “Verbal abuse, threats and attacks against our staff are completely unacceptable.
"Our staff have the right to a safe working environment and cannot provide effective treatment and care whilst dealing with violence and aggression."
The 'WorkWithoutFear' campaign, which aims to highlight the severity of the issue and call for greater respect from the public, will share firsthand accounts from ambulance staff who have experienced such incidents.
One such story comes from paramedic Eric Rolland, who was punched in the face by an intoxicated patient while on duty – an assault that left him requiring two separate surgeries and unable to work for several weeks.
He said: "I’ve been doing this job for 35 years, and certainly the last 12 months, the level of aggression, or very serious potential for aggression is unprecedented.
"There’s been a definite rise. It’s not part of the job"
Pictured: Eric Rolland was punched in the face by an intoxicated patient while on duty.
Speaking about the emotional toll such incidents place on ambulance workers, Mr Rolland said: “We're still humans, husbands, wives, parents, siblings.
"When we take the uniform off, we still take those experiences home. It plays on our minds; it still sits with us."
Associate Chief Ambulance Officer Gordon Hunt echoed this, saying: “Violence and aggression can have a significant and lasting impact on our people."
He continued: “Our ability to work safely and efficiently directly impacts the quality of care we provide.
"Any form of aggression or intimidation against our staff is unacceptable and can have serious consequences for both the responders and the patients.”
The campaign also aims to remind people of the legal consequences of assaulting emergency responders, with perpetrators risk facing a fine of up to £2,000 or a prison sentence.
Pictured: Tom Le Sauteur (36) and John Sutherland (60) were recently convicted of failing to provide “reasonable care” to a patient who later died.
Home Affairs Minister and former police officer Mary Le Hegarat said: “Aggression towards our emergency responders, and their right to work without fear of being attacked, need highlighting – as do the consequences for perpetrators.”
To drive the message home, the service's fleet of vehicles will also be decorated with slogans like 'respect saves lives' and 'aggression or intimidation is unacceptable'.
Former paramedics Tom Le Sauteur and John Sutherland, who recently lost an appeal after being found guilty of a health and safety breach in the handling of a intoxicated patient, have also spoken out about the growing danger for ambulance staff.
Mr Le Sauteur said: “For reasons that are beyond me, attacks on staff are on the increase.
"Although me and John haven't worked for the last two years, we're still friends with everyone there.
"The issue is getting worse and worse.”
Are you a member of the Emergency Service or Health staff who has experienced abuse at work? Could anything be done to make you to feel safer?
The Express team is happy to speak in confidence – email editor@bailiwickexpress.com.
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