A new campaign has been launched this week by the NW Ambulance Service asking the public for its support in condemning acts of violence and aggression against all emergency service staff.

With the aid of an online pledge link, NWAS is asking people to share the message that the 1,249 acts of violence and aggression against ambulance staff in the north west last year are unacceptable and can have a detrimental effect on the health and wellbeing of staff as well as the trust’s ability to respond to emergencies.

Interim Chief Executive, Mick Forrest explains: “Today, we will be joined by colleagues from the fire and police services and NWAS staff who have been victims of violence and aggression in launching our #getbehind999 campaign.

“Staff will be sharing their experiences via a short film and we will be sharing their stories on the day and throughout the next fortnight on social media to highlight what is a growing problem.”

In 2013/14 – trust staff reported 939 incidents of physical, verbal abuse and threatening behaviour, this has consistently risen year on year and in 2017/18, the figure stood at 1,249 and this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Unfortunately, not all staff report all incidents as it has become so common place, some believe think it is par for the course that it comes with the territory. NWAS wants to make it very clear to both them and the public that it most definitely does not. Violence of any kind, verbal or physical is not acceptable, it is not part of the job, it is not to be expected and emergency service staff have every right to work safely.

Out of the 1,249 incidents reported, 47 of these were sexual assaults, 94 involved a blade, 32 were racial abuse, 26 involved a stick or a club,12 were incidents of religious abuse and 466 were physical assaults

The consumption of alcohol plays a pivotal role in these acts of aggression and so as well as the online pledge, NWAS will be providing pubs and clubs with posters and beer mats to press home the message.

Certificates will also be available for clubs, social groups and businesses who sign the pledge so these can be displayed to show their support.

Mick adds, “This is a problem which effects us all. If an ambulance crew are attacked while out on the road, they need to come off duty. They might need treatment, or to provide the police with statements and this takes a vital resource off the road and unable to respond to an emergency.

“One of my worst fears as Interim Chief Executive is that I am going to be woken in the night to be informed of the death or life changing injury of a colleague because of an assault. I cannot imagine what it must be like to have to manage a situation like that and I sincerely hope I never have to.”

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