AMBULANCE workers have reported nearly 1800 incidents of violence and aggression from patients and members of the public over the past year.

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) colleagues reported 1,747 incidents since the start of the first UK lockdown last March.

The figures, from 24 March 2020 to 23 March 2021, include 515 verbal abuse incidents, 447 aggressive behaviour incidents, and 322 physical assaults.

They represent a 33 per cent increase in reported incidents from the previous 12 months.

Paramedic Mike Jones, who is SWASFT’s violence reduction lead, said: “Sadly our people are victim every day to unacceptable behaviour from a minority of patients and other members of the public, while they are serving the communities of the South West and saving lives.

"Any such incident can have a lasting impact on them, their loved ones, and other colleagues.

“We take whatever is necessary to protect our people from harm, including doing all we can to ensure offenders are prosecuted through the criminal justice system.

“Please respect our people, and help them to help you.”

Newly qualified paramedics, Dan Williams and Kyiah Ellis, were assaulted on duty by a patient who appeared to be under the influence of drugs.

They responded to a potentially serious incident, involving a man who was reportedly unconscious on a bus, in the Weston area of Bath on February 12.

When they arrived, the man exited the bus, headbutted its wing mirror and windscreen, and punched a parked car.

Dan and Kyiah called for police assistance and retreated onto the bus for their safety.

The man re-entered the bus and spat in Dan’s eye, while continuing to shout at him and Kyiah. He was arrested by police, taken into custody and charged.

The man was convicted at Bath Magistrates’ Court on 15 February of three charges of assaulting emergency services workers, and one charge of criminal damage.

He was sentenced to 32 week in prison and ordered to pay a total of £300 compensation to the victims.

Dan and Kyiah said: "We welcome the prosecution, and thank the police and SWASFT for their support throughout this.

"We are disappointed that simply doing our job, and ultimately likely saving the life of the patient, resulted in us being assaulted and fearing for our own safety.

"Assaults against our ambulance colleagues are never acceptable, and leave a lasting effect on those there simply to help.”