Danger on rise for medics

By SCOTT INGLIS

Increasing violence on the job has forced ambulance officers to seek police protection.

Auckland St John Ambulance has reported more instances where staff have had to wait for the police to make it safe before they could treat patients.

The issue of safety has been raised after four ambulance officers were attacked as they desperately tried to save the life of a heart-attack victim in West Auckland on Sunday night.

One of the officers was knocked out and another received moderate injuries after responding to the callout in Urlich Drive, Ranui.

The West Auckland CIB is investigating, and could lay serious charges - including manslaughter - if there is evidence that the attack cost the sick man his life.

Ambulance officers in the St John northern region reported 11 assaults last year and three so far this year, but say that is just a fraction of the real number because many minor ones go unreported.

Officers say they meet the threat of violence once a week on average.

Ambulance officers are vulnerable because they are not trained to deal with violence as the police are, and do not enjoy the safety of numbers that firefighters have.

Nurses have also reported increasing violence in emergency departments around the country.

Alcohol, drugs and psychiatric problems, as well as medical emergencies being emotionally charged atmospheres, are often behind attacks on medical personnel.

Auckland St John district operations manager Pauline Mellor told the Herald that staff had to wait at safe assembly points if there was any suggestion they could be exposed to violence or weapons.

"We're doing that more often these days.

"For example, if we get a report of a brawl in a hotel, we don't allow our crews to go in until the police have arrived."

There were no figures on the use of police protection, which was required only in the minority of cases.

"Many years ago, I guess, we probably felt a lot safer."

St John chiefs in Auckland and the central North Island yesterday said they would review staff safety, which could result in them being taught self-defence techniques on top of extra skills to diffuse potentially explosive situations.

Ms Mellor said the situation was unfortunate.

"We want to train our people to care for people, not to fight. If this is going to become an issue, if violence is going to become more commonplace ... we have to look at how we can train our staff to diffuse violent or potentially violent situations.

"It's something we have to review now ... I guess we'll just have to approach organisations that may be involved in self-defence or self-protection techniques."

But the service is being cautious about how far it goes.

"We are reluctant to train our people in any technique that could be aggressive."

The service is also encouraging staff to report all assaults, no matter how minor.

The Auckland ambulance communications centre, which deals with about 1500 calls a day, has also reported a rise in the number of abusive, hoax and nuisance calls.

Anyone calling an ambulance should tell the dispatcher if the officers are likely to face any danger, especially weapons.

"I think the uniform is perhaps not as protective as it used to be.

Hamilton-based St John Midland region chief Rob Sinclair said he agreed with Ms Mellor. The issue of safety - especially in rural areas and where officers were working alone - was of major concern.

Meanwhile, one of the officers attacked on Sunday night, Marcel Driessen, yesterday reflected on his ordeal.

"I've been in some blimmin' pickles but I'd have to say this is the one I feared for my life the most. I was absolutely terrified, petrified."

* The arrested man, Peato Vito Niuapu, aged 28, appeared yesterday in the Waitakere District Court on one charge of intentionally damaging an ambulance and two of resisting police.

Police say further charges in connection with the alleged attack on the ambulance officers are pending.

He was bailed without plea to reappear next week.