'More action' call on 999 attacks

Crews have been punched, kicked at spat at, the figures show

Calls have been made to prosecute more people who attack ambulance crews after figures showed they faced more than 500 abuse incidents in the last 30 months.

Ambulance staff in Wales have been physically assaulted 258 times since 2006 but it is understood only 17 successful prosecutions were brought.

There were also 311 verbal abuse complaints, the figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show.

Wales' health minister said those who carry out attacks should be prosecuted.

Crews in Wales faced on average, nearly 17 incidents of abuse every month, figures from the last 30 months show.

The figures, which were collated from 2006-07, 2007-08 and the first six months of 2008-09, were requested by Plaid Cymru AM Chris Franks.

There must at all times be a zero tolerance attitude taken to violence

Chris Franks AM

He said he was "disturbed and appalled" at the number of attacks on ambulance staff, which included them being punched, kicked and spat at.

He said that he had been told that one member of staff had been off work since January 2007 as a result of an attack.

"I'm told there have been 17 successful prosecutions during the period of my inquiries," he said.

"Plaid would like to see the (ambulance) trust, working with the police, take more people to court where they have been involved in incidents of violence.

"Ambulance crews should not have to put up with such appalling behaviour. There must at all times be a zero tolerance attitude taken to violence."

Counselling service

A Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust spokeswoman said the trust was doing "everything it can to ensure a safe environment for patients, staff and volunteers".

"The Welsh Ambulance Service upholds a zero tolerance approach to such behaviour and does its utmost to ensure that anyone who physically or verbally attacks ambulance crews is reported to the police," she said.

"Ambulance crews are taught conflict awareness, which involves techniques for calming down aggression and includes simple physical manoeuvres to use to extricate themselves from potentially dangerous situations.

"Refresher sessions are also regularly repeated, usually on an annual basis. The trust also has a colleague support system and staff can, if they so wish, access a professional, confidential counselling service."

A Welsh Assembly Government spokeswoman said Health Minister Edwina Hart has asked David Francis, the chair of Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust and former deputy chief constable of South Wales Police, to take forward recommendations of a taskforce that she established over the issue.

"The minister has made clear that the perpetrators of attacks on staff should be prosecuted," she said.

"There is an agreement in place between the assembly government, NHS, Association of Chief Police Officers and the Crown Prosecution Services on the prosecution of those who are violent and aggressive against NHS staff.

"The taskforce report reinforces the work already under way in Wales, and emphasised that NHS organisations provide any necessary support to encourage and enable victims of attacks to participate as witnesses to prosecute perpetrators, and that staff should be given free access to solicitors to pursue prosecutions.

She added: "In addition, the reporting of incidents is being improved so that staff are given prompt feedback on the investigation.

"As part of the investigation, measures to reduce the risk of such incidents re-occurring should be considered and put in place."