Attacks on ambulance staff across Shropshire and the West Midlands are among the highest in the country, shock figures have shown today.

Officials said the situation, which has seen attacks on more than 200 people, was “sickening”.

The figures from the NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service show that almost every day a member of the ambulance staff is abused while trying to help someone in need.

About 230 members of staff within the West Midlands Ambulance Service reported being either physically or verbally assaulted over a six-month period from April 1 to September 30 last year.

More than 50 people per 1,000 staff were attacked – the second highest figure in the country. The top score in the league of shame went to London. However, the number of assaults has fallen slightly on the same period last year. Physical assaults fell from 94 to 80 while the number of verbal assaults dropped from 172 to 151.

Anthony Marsh, WMAS chief executive, said: “These figures are shameful.

“It is absolutely abhorrent that ambulance staff, who are responding to help people who have serious medical conditions or injuries, should have to face this level of violence and verbal abuse. I find it sickening.

“It is pleasing to note that in about a third of cases, some level of sanction is taken against the assailant. This could be a custodial sentence, a caution or some other form of action by the courts.”

He added: “The trust has a zero tolerance policy in place and we work extremely hard to bring the full weight of the law to bear on anyone who attacks our staff.

“Although all staff will receive conflict resolution training in the coming year, at the end of the day, they should not need it.”