As the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives logged the greatest number of incidents against ambulance staff last year, £4.5 million has been paid out since 2022.
Figures obtained by Personal Injury Claims UK show that over the past three years, ambulance services across the country have reported more than 20,000 staff injuries while on duty, as services have paid out over £4.5 million to injury claims since 2022.
This backs up Healthcare Today, which in April reported a 15% increase in reported incidents of violence, aggression and abuse.
Figures from the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) revealed that more than 20,000 incidents of violence, aggression and abuse were directed at staff across the 14 UK ambulance services last year. The number of incidents is the highest ever recorded in the sector and equates to at least 55 ambulance staff being abused or attacked every single day, ranging from common assault to serious attacks.
Rising pressure
“No one should be attacked for simply doing their job. Ambulance workers who respond to emergencies, from heart attacks to car crashes, are trying to save lives,” said UNISON national ambulance officer Sharan Bandesha.
“Rising pressure on the health service has created a toxic environment where violence and abuse are becoming far too common. This is unacceptable. Staff are being left traumatised, injured and even forced out of roles, which makes the workforce crisis worse,” she added.
The South Central Ambulance Service logged the greatest number of injuries at 7,386, followed by the London Ambulance Service, which recorded 4,927 of them.
Between 2021 and 2024, 486 claims were lodged against the services, with 268 of these claims being settled.
This has led to a total of £4.5 million being paid out to successful claimants, with the highest amount being paid in 2022/23 at £2.7 million.
