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Body worn video for ambulances

by Mark Rowe

Ambulance crews in central Manchester, East Lancashire and parts of Merseyside are the first to wear body worn video cameras. It’s a trial scheme to combat violence and aggression against such front-line staff.

Like other users of the kit, such as police and retail security officers, medics will be able to press a button to record if a patient or other of the public becomes threatening. Paramedic Kristoffer Fairhurst, based in Burnley, will be among the first to use the cameras. He said: “Sadly it is all too common for frontline staff to be subject to violence by the very people we are trying to help. I have worked for the ambulance service for 13 years and during that time I have been kicked, spat at, shouted at and even threatened with a knife.

“This should not be happening and I am hoping that these cameras will give us an extra level of protection to deter incidents of abuse as well as assist with prosecutions and make staff feel safer.”

The North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust reports that in 2020, almost 400 incidents of physical assaults were reported against staff in the region, a rise of 4pc since 2018 despite lockdown during the pandemic from March 2020. In addition, some 1,061 incidents of verbal abuse or threatening behaviour were reported; and as in any field, incidents of assaults let alone verbal abuse of healthcare staff is much under-reported.

The Bolton-based Trust’s Director of Operations Ged Blezard said: “Our staff work day in, day out to protect and care for their patients, they do not deserve to be subject to abuse and assaults. It’s a top priority for us to keep our staff safe and this is a huge step towards reducing violence and aggression against them. Not only will this aid in prosecutions of offenders but it is hoped to help de-escalate situations and avoid attacks from even taking place”

Also, a violence and aggression group has been set up to target frequent offenders and work with the police and others to put sanctions in place, where possible.

The Trust is due to feature for a third time in a BBC TV documentary series.

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