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The head of Jersey’s Ambulance Service has said it has a “zero-tolerance approach” to violence against paramedics after it emerged that the number of attacks on Emergency Services and Health staff are on the rise.
There have been seven "safety events" – which include assaults on ambulance personnel – so far in 2024, according to a request made under the Freedom of Information Law.
Several of these caused "moderate physical harm" to Ambulance Service staff members.
Pictured: When assaults on staff are reported by the Ambulance Service, one "safety event record" is created per event – regardless of the number of staff involved. This table represents the number of "safety events" which include assault on staff, rather than the number of staff involved in any assault.
This follows an increase from less than five "safety events" in 2021 and 2022, to eight in 2023.
Responding to the figures, Chief Ambulance Officer Peter Gavey said that "emergency situations can be stressful and emotional for people" but it was "no excuse to behave aggressively towards paramedics".
He added: "The States of Jersey Ambulance Service has a zero-tolerance approach to such acts.
"Our staff cannot provide effective treatment and care whilst dealing with violence and aggression."
Pictured: Chief Ambulance Officer Peter Gavey said that the service takes the health, safety and wellbeing of staff "very seriously".
Mr Gavey said that the Ambulance Service takes the health, safety and wellbeing of staff "very seriously", adding that the service has "robust policies and procedures in place to protect our colleagues in the line of duty".
"These policies are regularly reviewed and, where necessary, protocols are changed to improve outcomes for staff," he said
The Chief Ambulance Officer explained: "Staff are trained to assess dynamic situations and encouraged not to put themselves in harm's way.
"They can withdraw and request back up from other services, if they feel they are under threat."
Mr Gavey said that an "Alerts Register" allowed ambulance staff to be aware of patients who have displayed aggressive behaviour in the past.
"We know that incidents of violence and aggression can have a significant and lasting impact on our people, and staff who are victims of violence are encouraged to report incidents as soon as possible, and will be supported by their manager," he added.
Pictured: The Government also has arrangements in place for occupational health assessment and support, such as counselling.
Mr Gavey explained that the Government also has arrangements in place for occupational health assessment and support, such as counselling.
"Verbal abuse, threats and attacks against our staff are completely unacceptable. We have the right to do our jobs free from abuse and violence," he concluded.
The Ambulance Service also has a Lone Worker Policy and Aggression Policy which sets out what staff should do in these situations and the support available.
Mr Gavey's comments come shortly after a two ambulance workers were found guilty by Jurats in the Royal Court of a health and safety breach in relation to their response to a patient who had called an ambulance when he was suffering the effects of an overdose.
Having become aggressive and saying he did not want help, the man later died of cardiac and respiratory arrest while he was in the care of paramedic John Sutherland and ambulance technician Tom Le Sauteur.
Pictured: Tom Le Sauteur (36) and John Sutherland (60) were recently convicted of failing to provide “reasonable care” to a patient who later died.
The case was heard by Commissioner Sir John Saunders – sitting with Jurats Jane Range and Michael Entwistle – who said the pair did not show a "sense of urgency" to move the patient to hospital and said there was "no danger" in giving him care once police had arrived to assist.
It was the first time such a case involving individuals had come before the Royal Court for sentencing – though four others had been heard in the Magistrate's Court.
Le Sauteur and Sutherland were handed a two-year conditional discharge for breaking the health and safety law.
This prompted Unite the Union to call for a full judicial review of the case against the first responders, whilst Social Security Minister Lyndsey Feltham confirmed to the States Assembly that her department would be examining the law.
Le Sauteur confirmed to Express that the pair would be appealing their conviction.
Earlier this month, Express reported that the number of attacks on Health staff had also been steadily rising over the past four years.
Last year, 310 incidents were recorded against staff across Health and Community Services facilities and in community settings, including 156 aimed at healthcare assistants.
The second-most affected staff group were nurses, with 99 incidents last year.
Pictured: Last year, 310 incidents were recorded against staff across Health and Community Services facilities and in community settings.
The Royal College of Nursing told Express they condemned any kind of violence against staff.
South East Operational Manager, Sarah Johnston called such incidents "completely unacceptable" and encouraged staff members who experience violence to "speak out" with support from their employer and "know the routes" to making a report.
Regional Officer from Unite the Union Jersey, James Turner, also said it has a "zero-tolerance approach" to "any level of aggression or violence" towards its members –which include nurses and health care assistants.
Violent incidents affecting Ambulance staff (paramedics, technicians, emergency care assistants and ambulance care assistants) were not included in the previous figures, because these come under the remit of the Home Affairs department rather than the Health department.
Are you a member of 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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