Paramedics have faced a steep rise in assaults over the past four years, new statistics have revealed.
The States of Jersey Ambulance Service has logged 26 incidents of violence, aggression and intimidation so far in 2024, which is more than the total reported cases in the previous two years combined.
There were 14 reported incidents in 2023 and seven in 2022, according to a statement released by the service. In comparison, there were five incidents in 2021 and four in 2020.
The release of these statistics come a week after two paramedics lost an appeal against their conviction for failing to provide reasonable care to a man who later died.
Tom Le Sauteur (36) and John Sutherland (60) were hoping to clear their names after being found guilty of failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of 39-year-old Frazer Irvine.
The patient, who called an ambulance in March 2022 when he was suffering the effects of an overdose, became aggressive and later died of cardiac and respiratory arrest.
Speaking to the JEP after they lost the appeal, the pair spoke out about the escalating risks faced by ambulance staff when dealing with violent patients.
They said that while the number of attacks on paramedics had increased, the response time for police back-up had got worse and described this as a “systematic problem.”
“Everyone in the ambulance service is scared,” Le Sauteur said.
“They’re scared about going to violent patients and not getting a warning. They’re scared about whether they are going to receive any support if they do need it.”
He continued: “The other issue we’re having – and I want to make this very clear, this is not the police officers on the ground who attend – is the level of response in terms of timing and when calls are prioritised.
“For the last two or three years, an ambulance crew suffering a violent attack doesn’t result in a blue-light response from the police.”
Another paramedic, who asked to remain anonymous over concerns about repercussions from management, described the difficult and dangerous circumstances faced by frontline staff on a regular basis.
They also pointed to an increase in violent incidents from patients suffering mental health or substance-abuse issues, and how back-up from the police or from mental-health professionals often failed to materialise when it was requested.
“We’ve got zero training in mental health,” the paramedic said. “The problem with that is that means we’re completely vulnerable, with no way of defending ourselves.
“To me personally, it has probably happened around 15 or 20 times, when someone is shouting at me and has a knife in their hands.”
“I’ve had incidents where I’ve waited over 45 minutes for police back-up to arrive when dealing with a violent patient, if back-up comes at all.”
The increase in violence, combined with a lack of support from management, is reportedly driving some ambulance staff to consider leaving the service altogether.
“The amount of people who are trying to get out is scary,” the paramedic warned. “It’s going to take someone getting really badly injured, or, god forbid, being killed, for management to actually put something into place and not sweep it under the carpet.”
They pointed to a workplace environment characterised by low morale, a lack of transparency, and an alleged focus on maintaining appearances rather that putting the employees and patients first.
Planning to leave the service themselves, they said: “I’m going to have to take a much lower-paid job and sell my flat just to pay my way through training to do something else.”
Jersey’s police and ambulance chiefs have stressed they “continuously review” their emergency response strategies after concerns were raised that police do not respond quickly enough to provide back-up during violent incidents involving paramedics.
In a joint statement issued last week, police chief Robin Smith and chief ambulance officer Pete Gavey acknowledged the inherent risks of emergency service work but said that there was a co-ordinated approach to emergency response in Jersey.
The statement reads: “It is important to recognise that working in the emergency services inherently involves a degree of risk, and it is a sad fact of life that emergency responders can face violence and aggression while doing their jobs.
“In the Emergency Services Control Centre based at police HQ, police and ambulance control staff work alongside each other in a single control room responding to emergency and non-emergency calls.
“Each call received in the ESCC, whether from the public or another emergency service, is risked assessed and resources deployed accordingly.
“The heads of all Jersey’s ‘blue light’ services have strong and productive relationships and meet to share learning and best practice so our collaboration remains effective and responsive to the needs of the community.
“We continuously review and improve our response strategies to minimise risks and enhance the safety of all emergency service personnel and remain dedicated to serve and protect our community effectively.”
In a separate statement issued on Friday, Mr Gavey said: “Verbal abuse, threats and attacks against our staff are completely unacceptable.
“Our staff have the right to a safe working environment and cannot provide effective treatment and care whilst dealing with violence and aggression.”
Are you a member of the emergency service who has experienced abuse at work? Could anything be done to make you to feel safer?
The JEP is happy to speak in confidence – email: jodie@allisland.media.
