GROWING numbers of ambulance staff are being physically assaulted, verbally abused and threatened at work, new figures have revealed.

The number of such incidents against ambulance workers in the North West has risen by 28 per cent from 939 in 2013-14 to 1,249 in 2017/18.

Incidents reported included 47 sexual assaults, 466 physical assaults and 32 incidents where staff had been racially abused by patients.

There were also 12 incidents reported by ambulance workers of religious abuse, 26 involving a stick or a club and 94 involving a blade, according to the ambulance service figures.

The figures have been slammed as ‘unacceptable’ by ambulance service chiefs and union bosses.

Union bosses blamed cuts to policing and a lack of protection to ambulance crews for the rise.

Read more: Paramedics 'seriously' assaulted in the line of duty

Mike Buoey, an organiser in the North West for GMB, the union for ambulance workers, said: “ We are seeing an unacceptable increase in attacks on crews.

“It’s made worse as police don’t always have the resources due to cuts to back ambulance crews up when they’re dealing with a potentially dangerous situation.

“So crews are left vulnerable and at risk waiting for police to arrive.

“We need to make sure our control rooms give ambulance staff all the information they need about the emergencies they’re attending to.

“Police also wear stab vests and carry truncheons and have CS gas if they’re under threat, while ambulance staff don’t have any of these.

“The ambulance service need to do more to protect its staff.”

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Ambulance service chiefs said of acts of violence and aggression against ambulance staff are unacceptable and can have a detrimental effect on the health and wellbeing of workers as well as the trust’s ability to respond to emergencies.

lThe trust launches its #GetBehind999 campaign today (Wednesday) and has asked the public for its support in condemning acts of violence and aggression against all emergency service staff.

Interim chief executive of the ambulance service Mick Forrest said: “Today, we will be joined by colleagues from the fire and police services and NWAS staff who have been victims of violence and aggression in launching our #getbehind999 campaign.

“Staff will be sharing their experiences via a short film and we will be sharing their stories on the day and throughout the next fortnight on social media to highlight what is a growing problem.”