Jersey Ambulance Service is running a campaign against aggression, as abuse towards its staff has increased more than ten fold in five years.

The service has revealed there have been 26 reported incidents of violence, aggression and intimidation towards its on-duty staff so far in 2024.

This is on-track to be double the number of recorded incidents last year.

• 2023: 14 
• 2022: 7
• 2021: 5
• 2020: 4
• 2019: 2

Ambulance teams are launching the campaign #WorkWithoutFear, to share the accounts of abuse emergency workers have received and highlight its impact on their lives.

Paramedic Eric Rolland: 

While on duty, Eric Rolland has been punched in the face by an inebriated patient. His injuries required two separate surgeries.

The assailant was arrested for assaulting an emergency responder.

Paramedic Eric Rolland tells his story

Eric says the incident changed the way he attends patients: 

“I’ve been doing this job for 35 years, and certainly the last 12 months, the level of aggression, or very serious potential for aggression is unprecedented. There’s been a definite rise. It’s not part of the job. 

“We try and help people when they’re in need, in their time of crisis. 

“You’re a bit more cautious approaching certain situations – people with mental health concerns and people under the influence of alcohol or drugs. 

“We’re still humans, husbands, wives, parents, siblings. When we take the uniform off, we still take those experiences home. It plays on our minds; it still sits with us.”

Associate Chief Ambulance Officer Gordon Hunt

Gordon Hunt tells Channel 103 about his experience on the road:

"I have experiences of being in confined spaces with a drunk individual who had become aggressive and abusive, making personal statements against myself and threats of intimidation and violence.

"All of these barriers then mean that I'm in the position where I've got to think of myself, having to think of my safety, having to think about stepping away and making sure I, my colleague and other bystanders are safe."

Other paramedics have also been sharing their stories:

Paramedics share their stories

Paramedics share their stories

Gordon Hunt  says the campaign also seeks to instil the message into islanders that abuse will not be tolerated and workers have a right to a safe working environment.

"We have seen some incidents where members of our teams and colleagues have been assaulted by patients. We want to understand why that's happening and reduce that for our teams.

"We will follow that up to the full extent of the law and the procedures we have available to us. We have done that with some of the cases we've had this year and through support from our police colleagues and courts as well.

"We're seeking to make sure the message gets across that this is not acceptable. This is not okay. We're not willing to accept our staff being fearful in doing this job which is such a vital part of the community."