Frightened ambulance staff in Shropshire are buying their own stab-proof vests because of increasing attacks on the emergency services, it was claimed today.Mark Pritchard, Conservative MP for the Wrekin, said paramedics and technicians were forking out from their own pockets because of fears they will be hurt by thugs.
He said it was “a disgrace” they had to pay and called on ambulance service chiefs to do more to protect their staff and provide armour for those who wanted it.
Mr Pritchard said he would raise the matter with Anthony Marsh, chief executive of the West Midlands Ambulance Trust, at a meeting with him next week.
The MP said he had been approached by staff, who wished to remain anonymous, and told a significant number were buying vests to wear on shift.
He said: “Shropshire’s ambulance staff are some of the most dedicated and hardest working people within the health service.
“They need protection from increasing attacks and equipment like stab-proof vests should be provided by the ambulance trust - not by the staff themselves.”
Mr Pritchard also said he was disgusted by those who attack the emergency services and particularly medical staff.
He has previously called for a new criminal offence to be put on the statute books to cover attacks on health and emergency workers.
He has backed a motion in the House of Commons in support of such a law, which may allow tougher sentences for such offenders.
A woman paramedic was in hospital today after being attacked in the early hours when she disturbed two men attempting to break into an ambulance car in Rugby.
Last August, a brick was hurled through the back window of a paramedic’s car outside the Kumar Fish and Chip Shop, Southgate, Sutton Hill, Telford.
Murray MacGregor, spokesman for the West Midlands ambulance service, said there were about 130 attacks on staff last year in its area, but as far as he knew there had been no formal requests for stab vests.
The service was committed to protecting its staff who were told to wait for police back-up at incidents where there might be violence, he added.
By Dave West
16 Comments
We all have to make sacrifices for work. It’s worth that little bit of money for one’s own peace of mind.
Totally disagree with the above comment, this is another example of how much the bosses of West Midlands Ambulance service care about their employees. Why should these people put there lives at risk to save your lives….. it would be a different story if the story was about police officers having to buy their own equipment!!!
People of Shropshire wake up and realise this is the state of the Ambulance Service serving your county……..It is the ambulance services responsibilty to protect their staff on every health and safety issue.
what is this country coming to…
Harold St. John Peasbody said:
“We all have to make sacrifices for work. It’s worth that little bit of money for one’s own peace of mind”
Please, please tell us that this was simply a failed attempt at humour. I just hope that you or one of you family are never in desperate need of help from the ambulance service but find that they have already made one sacrifice too far….
Yet another wake up call for the people of shropshire!
This says it all about the state of our country - not only in the sence that even Ambulance staff are being frequently attacked in our increasingly lawless society but the fact that they, and not their employers are reduced to buying protective clothing. This is a disgraceful situation. As an ex Copper, I can honestly say that the Ambulance crews are the most under rewarded of the emergency services yet, they fully justify comparable wages and working conditions with the Police and Fire Services. When Ambulance crews turn up at the scene of a serious injury incident or Road Traffic Accident - the Police and Fire Services if they are there before them, step back, leave things to the experts and heave a big sigh of relief. Thanks for everything you do Ambulance crews, I would expect your bosses and ultimately this government to give you the protection, support and the due reward for your difficult labours and responsibilities that you deserve.
For God’s sake!! These people are in the business of ‘often’ saving lives and should be provided with all protection needed. No way should they have to buy their own. Shame on those who think otherwise.
IMillions of pounds to build a new theatre in Shrewsbury that will benefit few while these unsung heroes go without! Wake up Britain and start valuing your workforce.
Yes it is worth that little bit of money for peace of mind, but it should be bought and issued by the Ambulance Service.
Beggars belief - they wouldn’t need body armour if the culprits were given firm sentences !!!
It is a sad state of affairs that these vests are required at all, when an evil-minded minority of scum attack others who are trying to care for people
Perhaps ambulances should carry a “bouncer” too? Or maybe ambulance personnel ought to be armed, particularly in violent crime & murder hotpots such as the county town?
It is perhaps unfortunate that those who approached the MP chose not to use the normal channels for highlighting their concerns with the service.
Although there were only a handful of assaults on staff in Shropshire during the last year, even one is one too many. That is why the service has written to each of the Chief Constables in the Region and also the Chairs of Magistrates Courts Benches asking for their continued support and to take the toughest possible action against those who abuse Trust staff. It is simply unacceptable that people whose job it is to help people who are ill or injured should be left in fear or worse still actually harmed.
We would also ask for the support of the public in providing information to the police directly or through Crimestoppers to identify these people who perpetrate such appalling actions.
Only two areas of the country have issued stab vests to all staff - London and Essex - there has been little support for such a move elsewhere in the country. Even in those areas that have them, not all staff choose to wear the stab vests.
If staff feel they want to raise the issue, then all they have to do is do so through one of the Unions or by approaching the Trust directly.
I hope this brings some clarity to the situation.
Now you are being silly Harold.
I’m a paramedic that works by myself in a car, and have to work all hours and days. During my time in the ambulance service, i have been shot at, chased by people with knivies, have been assualted and attacked many times when trying to help inuried people. I have no backup, no panic button, the hand held radios are rubbish and no one can hear you, you dont have time to get your mobile out and ring 999 when you’re being attacked, so if i was seriously attacked, no one would ever know about it until someone found me. I have asked for body armour for years and management refuse to spend the money, and that assualts are not high enough, many because staff no longer report it as we see it as part of the job now which is very sad. The law does not protect ambulance staff as proved by the paramedic that was seriously assualt in nuneaton
Just so you all know, i served as a police officer for 9 years before becoming a paramedic, so i have seen it and i know when the law works and does not work, i have arrested people for assulating ambulance staff in the past, unfortunatley the CPS and judges had different views to the public that they are ment to be serving. Senoir managers, espeially in the ambulance service have either forgotten, or have no experience in front line operation duties, so are not in a position to comment of make decisions regarding this without the consent of their staff
Once again we hear the usual spin from Mr. MacGregor about how the service supports its staff. Explain then please, why, when a crew was chased down the road by a violent drunk man on drugs that the service refused to prosecute despite the crew wanting action to be taken? Explain too, how crews are sometimes sent by control to emergencies with even being advised that they are going to a potentially hazardous situation. Staff are, quite frankly, not using the ‘normal’ channels and approaching the trust or unions because they feel to do so would be a futile exercise.