Attack on ambulance staff show sudden rise

Concern is growing for the safety of ambulance staff following an increase in the number of officers being threatened and assaulted.

Some believe the situation has reached the stage where someone could die, because officers need to put their own safety first - leaving dangerous situations rather than treating patients who are violent or who have violent friends or family.

This year there have already been five assaults on Auckland officers - a third of the number for all of last year.

Two weeks ago experienced officers were forced to leave an Auckland party, where a person lay unconscious, after being threatened by other party-goers. Once outside, the officers called for police assistance.

Last week two officers had to stop treating a violent patient in the back of an ambulance and wait for police for help them.

St John Auckland operations manager Pauline Mellor said the organisation would not tolerate violence against its officers and staff were encouraged to report attacks to the police.

She said the assaults were taking place throughout the country and carried out by patients, friends and family on both male and female officers. They were often fuelled by alcohol or drugs. Staff had seen a number of P-related incidents.

In one case a female office was repeatedly touched by a man she was trying to help in the back of an ambulance. The officer said that despite being heavily intoxicated, the man knew what he was doing.

"Every time he opened his eyes he looked at me, grinned then grabbed me," she said.

Other staff have had rocks thrown at them or been scratched, cut, punched and bruised on the job.

One of the worst cases involved an officer who need surgery for a wrist injury. She remains off work 15 months later.

St John OSH adviser Rob McAulay said officers were often prepared to make allowances for emotions during emergency situations, but in most cases there was no excuse for the assaults.

Mr McAulay said staff are trained to leave if they feared for their safety while helping a patient.

"Unfortunately there may be one day when it happens and they leave and someone will die because of that," he said.

"People getting stroppy need to take responsibility for their actions. We are only trying to help them."

He said those who don't want medical help only had to tell St John staff and they would leave.

"If people don't want our assistance, that's fine. Just say we don't want your help and we'll go. You don't need to throw us out the door, we can take a hint."

ASSAULTS

* A growing number of officers assaulted; three serious cases are now before the courts.

* One officer needed wrist surgery and has had 15 months off work.

* Officers have been groped, punched in the face, spat on, cut, scratched, had rocks thrown at them and verbally and physically threatened.