Assault and abuse

As we approach mental health awareness week taking place this month from 9–15 May, it is difficult not to be acutely aware of the disturbing statistics recently released by the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) (2022).

Every single day during 2021, 32 ambulance staff based in the UK were abused or attacked—that is a total of 11 749 staff, or more than one during every hour of every day throughout the entire year. The initial period following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic saw the most stark rise of 23% compared with the previous year and, over the last 5 years, there has been an increase of 4060 incidents. These ranged from verbal abuse, slapping, head-butting, kicking and punching assaults to serious attacks involving knives and other weapons. Assaults against female ambulance staff have risen by close to 50%, while younger members of staff aged 21–34 years have seen the greatest increase in abuse and violence in the past 5 years.