One NT ambo assaulted on the job every 5 days, shocking statistics reveal

A paramedic, who was brutally assaulted while treating a patient in the back of an ambulance 8-and-a-half months ago, is still coming to terms with the mental impacts of the incident.

A PARAMEDIC, who was brutally assaulted while treating a patient in the back of an ambulance 8-and-a-half months ago, is still coming to terms with the mental impacts of the incident.

Her story is just one of 58 reported incidents of verbal and physical assaults on St John NT paramedics this year.

It comes after two paramedics were assaulted in Darwin last week in separate incidents within 24 hours.

Eight months on, the trauma of the assault looms over the paramedic, who does not wish to be identified.

“When I was assaulted it took me by surprise,” she said.

There has been 58 reported incidents of verbal and physical assaults on St John NT paramedics so far this year. Picture: Keri Megelus

“I consider myself a good paramedic, with years and years of experience, I can usually tell when someone is turning aggressive.”

While treating a patient in the back of an ambulance she was struck in the face, which she recalls as “out of the blue”.

“My partner at the time said there was no way you could have predicted it, there were no signs that you could have known that was going to happen,” she said.

Despite campaigning for “Zero Tolerance” of assaults against paramedics, an ambo has been verbally or physically assaulted almost every five days so far this year.

Last year, there were 71 reports of assaults made. St John NT Ambulance Services director Andrew Thomas said abuse often went under reported in the Territory.

“It is often under reported because it happens so regularly,” Mr Thomas said.

“Every service is finding it difficult to manage and we’re seeing those numbers continue to remain stable, despite those messaging campaigns.”

United Workers Union – the union representing paramedics – secretary Erina Early said new paramedics to the NT were reporting more incidents of aggression, compared with their previous two years of work in southern states.

“We need to be aware that the figures do not reflect the true data, most paramedics and patient transport officers do not report their assaults,” Ms Early said.

The anonymous paramedic said life was too short to be going to work to get punched in the face.

“My workplace was extremely supportive and my colleagues were amazing,” she said. “Still to this day I won’t let it beat me, I won’t let that be the decision of whether I choose to go.”

Mr Thomas said assaults not only affected the victim, but had a broader impact on the community. “If we are required to take staff or vehicles offline due to attacks, this may result in delays in providing our services to others who are in need,” Mr Thomas said.