A female paramedic with more than 37 years of service has suffered multiple injuries in a sustained assault at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) has said.

The attack happened at about 17:45 GMT on Saturday, while the paramedic was responding to someone in need of medical assistance. Police said a suspect has been identified.

The NIAS said the paramedic sustained injuries to the back of her head, her neck, her face and her hands during the attack, and that she is also believed to have suffered concussion. The incident happened after the service received a call to provide medical assistance to a male patient, who was being transported by ambulance to the hospital following initial treatment.

Attack during patient transfer

On arrival at the hospital, and while the patient was being transferred from a stretcher to a chair, he punched one of the paramedics in the face, the ambulance service said. The force of the blow knocked her down and knocked her glasses off her face.

A second paramedic tried to intervene but could not get into a proper position to help, after the man also attempted to punch her. He then turned his attention back to the first paramedic and started a sustained attack on her as she lay helpless, the service said. The attack lasted a number of minutes.

Ambulance chief 'horrified and outraged'

Jenny Keane, chief executive of the NIAS, said she was horrified and outraged to hear of the assault. She said the incident was particularly disturbing given that it was carried out by an adult man against a female paramedic, while her other female colleagues did what they could to help.

"This was a sustained assault on a paramedic who has a career of over 37 years, caring for her local community," Keane said. "Although her physical injuries, of which there are many, may heal over the coming days and weeks, I would be concerned at the psychological and emotional impact this may have on her and others involved."

She added that NIAS staff must be free to go anywhere without the fear of being assaulted, quite simply for delivering care and compassion to someone they have been called to assist.

Politicians condemn the attack

Social Democratic and Labour Party Foyle assembly member Sinead McLaughlin, who knows the paramedic personally, said she was absolutely appalled by the vicious attack and found the extent of the injuries deeply upsetting. She said attacks on healthcare workers cannot be allowed to become something that is simply accepted as part of the job, and that the safety of frontline workers must be a priority.

Sinn Fein assembly member Philip McGuigan said there must be zero tolerance of attacks or abuse against health and social care workers. He said health service workers go above and beyond to save lives and keep people safe, often working in very challenging circumstances, and should never have to face abuse, attack, intimidation or threats in the workplace.

Source: BBC News NI