Victorian paramedics being abused on average five times per week

Victoria’s paramedics are being assaulted or abused up to five times per week, with some cases sparked by triple-0 call delays.

Victorian paramedics are being assaulted by patients several times a week, according to the union boss. Picture: David Crosling

The head of Victoria’s ambulance union says paramedics are being assaulted by patients several times a week, with some cases sparked by triple-0 call delays.

Danny Hill said the union had received an average of five reports of paramedics being assaulted or experiencing verbal abuse every week.

“Not all reports are related to call delays but there are definitely some cases of paramedics turning up and patients are angry because they’ve been waiting so long on the phone, they’re taking that out on our members when they turn up.”

Mr Hill also noted other shocking incidents of assault towards paramedics.

“We’ve also had members that have been driving an ambulance and someone has reached over and tried to grab them while they’re driving and tried to crash the vehicle.

“Members have also been locked inside a room while attending to the patient and they’ve become trapped in the house and called police to try and get out.

“There’s also been members that have been hit, scratched and even spat on quite regularly.”

Last year, there were 631 cases of occupational violence reported against Victoria’s paramedics, compared to almost 700 the year prior.

It comes after the state government announced this week that an additional 120 triple-0 operators were set to be deployed to alleviate delays.

Last month, the Herald Sun also revealed the tragic death of Stewart Grant, whose grieving wife told of the horror of watching her husband die after he waited 40 minutes for an ambulance.

Mr Hill said it could take at least six months for the newly recruited operators to perform their role.

“It really depends on when they start hiring, it could be well and truly take six months before things turn around,” he said.

He said he was still extremely concerned about triple-0 delays that could occur within the six months.

“Hopefully that won’t occur, but if we have further increases in workload that is definitely a possibility.

“120 additional operators is a significant increase, I don’t know if that will lead to double the amount of call takers overnight, I hope it does.”

An Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said: “While we are not aware of any incidents as described, occupational violence is never OK and is a priority area within Ambulance Victoria.”

“Paramedics and all healthcare workers have a right to expect they will be safe at work, and that they will go home safely at the end of each,” the spokeswoman said.

An ESTA spokesman said: “ESTA is not aware of any incidents of occupational violence as described - however violence against our emergency services workers is never ok.”

A state government spokeswoman said: “It’s unacceptable that anyone could be purposefully injured.”

“There is simply no justification for physical or verbal violence against our emergency services workers for any reason, and anyone who does will be held to account,” she said

“The pandemic continues to put every part of our health system under enormous pressure and our nurses, ambos and emergency call takers have worked around the clock to keep people safe and deliver the care they need.

“We are recruiting and training even more call takers to join our hardworking emergency team to make sure people calling Triple-0 have the help they need, when they need it.”