Paramedics warned off 1200 locations across Victoria amid safety fears

PARAMEDICS have been warned off going to almost 1200 locations across Victoria because of fears for their safety. Find out which areas are on the list.

PARAMEDICS have been warned off going to almost 1200 locations across Victoria because of fears for their safety.

The list of ambulance no-go zones has tripled in some of the worst suburbs in just five years, a Herald Sun investigation using Freedom of Information laws has revealed.

Paramedics routinely refuse to respond to calls for help in many known trouble spots unless they receive a police escort.

The number of addresses Ambulance Victoria lists as unsafe or violent has risen by almost a quarter across the state in just five years.

Paramedics have been warned off certain areas across Victoria amid concerns for their safety.

The surge in no-go areas coincides with a rise in violence associated with the state’s epidemic use of the drug “ice”.

Documents released to the Herald Sun under FOI show 54 paramedics were assaulted or confronted with violence in just 42 days in October and November last year.

Ambulance Employees Association state secretary Steve McGhie said action was needed to address the worrying increase in violence directed towards paramedics.

Mr McGhie said some areas had become so risky paramedics had raised their concerns about entering them with Ambulance Victoria management.

“Some of that will be drug affected people, including ice affected, but also a lot of it is to do with domestic violence and alcohol abuse,” he said.

“We’re seeing on average now about one paramedic a day is being abused or assaulted.

“Paramedics should certainly not put themselves at risk because there’s no benefit to anyone if they get smacked up of stabbed or shot at.”

Mr McGhie called for a “no tolerance” education campaign and for more people with mental health or drug issues who assault emergency workers to be charged so the courts could judge the extent of mitigating circumstances.

Ambulance Victoria Acting General Manager Emergency Operations Mick Stephenson said the service was working with Victoria Police to increase information sharing to better identify danger spots, including where individuals may be violent, have a mental health issue, use drugs or own a firearm.

“No paramedic is expected to enter a scene where violence is likely or suspected,” he said.

“The safety of paramedics is paramount and we do not tolerate any violence or aggression towards our staff. We are continually reviewing our systems to provide the safest possible work environment for paramedics.”

The released documents reveal Ambulance Victoria’s “locations of interest” register now lists 1171 dangerous addresses, up from 963 in 2010.

The 22 per cent rise would be even greater but for the removal of many addresses following a clean-up of records after the merger of the metropolitan and rural services to account for instances where people had moved, died or were no longer considered a concern.

The released data shows the Mornington Peninsula is a major trouble spot with 105 “no go” addresses in Frankston, Mornington, Rye and surrounds.

Dandenong has the 34 flagged locations; the most of any postcode in Victoria, while nearby Cranbourne has 22.

Reservoir has 27, Greater Geelong 22, West Footscray 21 and Heidelberg 18. Outside the city Greater Bendigo, Greater Ballarat and the Latrobe Valley each have 12.

The previous State Government imposed tougher sentences on those who attack emergency workers including at least five years’ jail for causing serious injury and at least six months for less serious assaults.

AMBULANCE “NO GO” ZONES

Dandenong 34*

Frankston 29

Reservoir 27

Cranbourne 22

Greater Geelong 22

WestFootscray/Brooklyn/Maidstone 21

Heidelberg West/Heights 18

Point Cook 17

Noble Park 15

St Albans 14

Mornington 14

Preston 13

Greater Bendigo 12

Greater Ballarat 12

Latrobe Valley 12

Sunshine/Albion 12

Frankston Nth 12

Rye 12

Flemington 11

Ascot Vale 11

Pascoe Vale 11

Bonbeach/Chelsea 11

Hampton Park 11

Laverton 10

Glenroy 10

Meadow Heights 10

Box Hill 10

Narre Warren/ South 10

Boronia 9

Melton 9

Melton South 9

Sunbury 9

Mildura 9

Packenham 9

Hastings 9

Mildura 9

SOURCE: AMBULANCE VICTORIA.

* NUMBER OF LOCATIONS