By Joshua Robinson – 

Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) staff and paramedics have been physically and verbally assaulted more than 8,000 times while on duty in the last five years, a new investigation has revealed.

Incidents included staff being punched, kicked, slapped, spat at, and threatened with weapons.

It comes as the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) warns that UK ambulance services are on course to report the “highest ever rate of violent, aggressive and abusive incidents against staff.”

New data obtained by Legal Expert has revealed that between 2019 and 2024, a total of 8,100 incidents of physical and verbal abuse have been recorded by the YAS.

To read Legal Expert’s original research, please go to: https://www.legalexpert.co.uk/accident-at-work-claims/assault-at-work-compensation/.

Of those, 1,516 were physical assaults, 4,544 were verbal abuse incidents and 2,040 were recorded as non-physical abuse.

Legal Expert solicitor, Patrick Mallon said: “These figures are extremely concerning. Nobody should have to feel threatened at work – especially hard-working, vital NHS staff.”

“Something must be done to tackle abuse towards NHS staff who are just trying to do their jobs.”

In the last year alone (2023/24), YAS confirmed that staff were subjected to assaults which included:

• Aggressive Behaviour
• Verbal Abuse
• Physically threatening behaviour
• Sexual Abuse
• Racial Abuse
• Threatening behaviour (with a knife)
• Punched
• Threatening behaviour (with a weapon)
• Kicked
• Stereotypical abuse
• Spitting
• Slapped
• Had a weapon
• Bitten
• Stalking

Infographic copyright: LegalExpert.co.uk

According to the AACE, there were 11,817 reported incidents of violence, aggression and abuse against UK ambulance staff in the six months to September 2024.

The figure accounts for 61 percent of the 19,633 reported for 2023/24 overall.

The organisation said at the current rate it expects incidents to top 20,000 for the first time across the 14 ambulance services.

Anna Parry, Managing Director of AACE, said: “These new figures highlight the upsetting fact that ambulance employees face the very real possibility of being subject to violence or abuse each time they start a shift.”

“This can have a significant and lasting impact on wellbeing and sometimes even lead to people leaving the ambulance service.”

Legal Expert also obtained the latest data from NHS Resolution, the legal arm of the NHS, regarding the number of legal claims that have been lodged against UK Ambulance Trusts as a result of assaults on staff.

Since 2019, there have been 74 legal claims and incidents of ambulance staff assaults reported to the NHS legal body. Of those, 36 related to orthopaedic injuries, 13 pertained to facial injuries and 9 were for head injuries.

A further 8 claims and incidents were logged relating to psychiatric damage and eight more for injuries to internal organs.

In the last five years, UK Ambulance Trusts have settled 15 such claims with compensation payouts amounting to £589,533.

A further £100,498 was paid for NHS legal costs as well as £267,518 for the claimant’s legal costs – giving a grand total of £957,549.

Mr Mallon added: “Whilst claiming against medical bodies like the NHS can seem daunting, such claims help highlight the issues and hopefully start the conversation that leads to change to ensure no staff members ever fall victim to either physical or verbal abuse in the future.”

Legal Expert offers a specialist service for anyone looking for support and advice after being affected by physical or verbal assault.

They operate a 24-hour helpline and live chat service which can be accessed on their website at: https://www.legalexpert.co.uk/.

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