GMB reveals south east ambulance workers suffered more than 2,000 violent attacks in recent years

Attacks, which saw workers from South East Coast and South Central Ambulance Services bitten, head-butted, spat at and struck with weapons, took place more than 1,025 times from the financial year 2017-18 to 2021-2022. Almost 100 of these were sexual assaults. South Central covers Portsmouth and Hampshire.

NOW READ: South Central Ambulance Service paramedics strike in Portsmouth for higher pay after Unite union turns down government pay rise offer

Ambulance workers took to the stage at GMB’s annual congress in Brighton this week to discuss the attacks they face daily, as well as the national NHS strikes they took part in and much needed reform to ambulance worker retirement age.

GMB’s ambulance members successfully changed the law in 2018 when the Assaults Against Emergency Workers (Offences) Act made assaults on ambulance workers an aggravating factor for sentencing.

Rachel Harrison, GMB National Secretary, said: ‘Ambulance workers across the south east go to work every day to save lives. Despite this, thousands of them are bitten, attacked, spat at and even sexually assaulted. No one should have to put up with that, least of all those who are there to protect us.

NOW READ: Bournemouth beach: Dorset police keeping 'open mind' in investigation into deaths of two children - as victim's family pay tribute

‘GMB members helped change the law but more needs to be done. We demand full enforcement of the Protect the Protectors legislation, investment in better systems to flag offenders, and much better support for the victims of violence.’

GMB is a union with more than 500,000 members who work in a wide variety of jobs across public services and in private companies.