Ambulance crew attacks up

VIOLENT assaults on ambulance staff in South Yorkshire reached 15 last year.

They were among 51 violence-related incidents in total on ambulance crews across Yorkshire.

Figures released on attacks on NHS staff have shown a slight upturn in the number of reported assaults at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Fifty-one incidents of physical assault were reported by YAS staff in 2008-09 according to details published by the NHS Security Management Service. Last year the figure was 45.

Ian Walton, A and E Operations Director at YAS, said: "The safety of our staff is of paramount importance and we are committed to driving these figures down.

"It is appalling that ambulance staff who do a difficult job, often in challenging circumstances, have been attacked as they try to save lives.

"Physical and verbal attacks on any member of NHS staff are completely unacceptable and here at YAS we are doing everything we can to prevent them, including conflict resolution training.

"We operate a zero tolerance policy against violent and aggressive behaviour and we encourage the reporting of such incidents so that action can be taken to prosecute those who assault our staff."