Paramedics Need Stab Vests, UK Union Leaders Warn

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Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 10 Nov 2007 - 12:00 PDT

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The lives of many UK ambulance staff are being subject to unnecessary risk because they do not receive stab vests, according to the Association of Professional Ambulance Personnel (APAP). For the last decade the Association has been trying to get all front ambulance crews to have stab vests. Jonathan Fox, of APAP, explained that as crime has increased the risk of serious injuries for paramedics who respond to emergencies has gone up - staff are at risk everyday.

However, according to the Department of Health, no funding requests for the body protecting garments have been received. Health Minister, Ben Bradshaw said that if health trusts feel stab vests are necessary for ambulance staff, then they will have them.

London, Essex and Dorset are the only parts of the country that issue stab vests to paramedics routinely.

Jonathan Fox said that although the vast majority of the public they serve are law-abiding, there is a growing minority of individuals who can become violent - this risk needs to be addressed urgently.

During the year 2006/2007 there were 1,006 reported cases of assaults against paramedics in England.

81 staff who work for the South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust were assaulted during the same year - this compares with 67 during the previous year. A security manager position was set up this year in order to help ensure the safety of staff.

Total ambulance staff in England
1995 - 19,666
2005 - 28,180
-- of which were qualified ambulance staff
1995 - 14,508
2005 - 18,117
-- of which were paramedics
1995 - 6,030
2005 - 8311
(Source - The Information Centre (NHS) - PDF file)

-- Association of Professional Ambulance Personnel (APAP)

Written by׃ Christian Nordqvist
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