A PARAMEDIC has spoken out about being attacked by the brother of an assault victim he was trying to help.
Keith Scott, 33, joined ambulance officials to launch the Stop The Abuse campaign yesterday at the Lime Kiln pub on Fleet Street, Liverpool.
The campaign could see pubs banning individuals who have subjected ambulance crews to violence or verbal abuse in any of their premises.
Mr Scott, a father-of-one, was punched in the face as he tried to help an injured man in Warrington in March 2007.
His septum was dislocated in the attack, meaning his nose had to be operated on and he says it has had a huge effect on his life ever since.
In 2007/2008, there were 234 reported assaults on North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) employees, and this does not include verbal abuse or threatening behaviour.
In Cheshire and Merseyside alone there were 54 assaults between April to October 2008.
Many of these are fuelled by alcohol according to the service and police revealed yesterday that the rise of cocaine abuse is exasperating the situation.
Pubwatch and the five police forces across the North West region will be supporting the ambulance service to address this side of the issue.
All licensed premises in Pubwatch schemes in the North West have committed to considering the use of banning orders on those who subject ambulance crews to physical or verbal assaults in their premises.
Mr Scott, who has worked for the service for eight years, said: “It affected me a lot at first.
“For months I was anxious about visiting the town centre and it has changed the way I do my job to an extent.
“I had to have four weeks off work initially and then more time for the operation, it has a knock on effect for the whole service.”
lizawilliams
Liverpool Daily Post: http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2008/11/20/injured-paramedic-backs-pub-ban-on-attackers-64375-22299703/
