Forty four attacks have been carried out on ambulance personnel in recent weeks, with almost half of these occurring in the final week of May.
Five of these assaults on NIAS key workers happened in one day alone (30 May).
Some of the physical and verbal assaults involved patients spitting at crews and urinating over equipment. Some even claimed they had COVID.
Concern has been expressed at the number of attacks.
Many workers have had to make sacrifices by moving out of their family homes to reduce the risk of passing the virus.
According to the NIAS, in the early stages of the pandemic, there was a reduction in the number of calls that crews were required to attend.
Between 29 May to 7 June, 35 incidents of verbal or physical assaults, on staff, have been reported and involved 42 members of our staff. On many occasions, drugs and alcohol were involved.
Assaults were not just carried out on staff responding to calls, but also by staff working in control centres and just recently, by members of a private ambulance service.
“The impact on staff is not just in terms of physical injuries, but these events have a lasting psychological impact on those involved. We are also concerned about the increased stress placed upon family members, who are already having to cope with the added worry of their loved ones dealing with the risks associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“Like every other part of the HSC, NIAS has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and respect shown to our staff and the work that we do. Whilst we realise that we continue to have the full support of the vast majority of the people of Northern Ireland, it is regrettable and concerning, that a number of people who call on us for help, feel it is acceptable to treat our staff in this way. Our staff should never be subject to the levels of abuse and physical harm which they sometimes encounter. It should never be considered an occupational hazard,” NIAS said in a statement.
Michael Bloomfield, Chief Executive of the NI Ambulance Service, said he was greatly concerned at the recent rise in the number assaults on staff.
“Ambulance Service staff provide an essential service to the whole community. This is a difficult role at all times, but particularly so during the past few months dealing with the challenges and risks associated with Covid-19.
“For our staff to face the added fear of assault – physical and verbal, when they are trying to provide the best possible care and treatment is disgraceful and I call on all those with influence to condemn it.
“I have no hesitation in calling for appropriate action to be taken, through the judicial system, against those who are responsible for these assaults,” he said.
“Our staff deserve better and we will continue to support them through measures available to us, including immediate management and peer support which will continue for as long as necessary.
“The impact of these attacks go far beyond the staff directly affected. They often result in our levels of cover being reduced as staff are unable to continue with their duties. Affected areas may be left vulnerable due to longer response times as crews attend from neighbouring stations. This could have potentially fatal consequences for those who urgently need of our service,” he added.
The Minister of Health, Robin Swann, said he was ‘absolutely appalled’ at the assaults.
“Ambulance staff have put themselves on the line for the rest of us time and time again during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We owe a massive debt of gratitude to them and to all their colleagues across the health and social care frontline.
“It is beyond belief that they should be on the receiving of this kind of thuggery.
“My thoughts are with all those affected. I hope they take comfort from the fact that the vast majority of people here regard them as heroes and will be as incensed as I am about these incidents,” he added.