Union that represents hundreds of ambulance workers unequivocally condemns attacks on staff

January 5th: Kevin McAdam, Unite Regional Officer with responsibility for the Ambulance workers was responding to recent attacks; the first on an ambulance crew in Lurgan in which an oxygen cylinder was launched at the vehicle while they were attempting to treat a man who had been stabbed; the second when a paramedic was assaulted by a patient they had been called to treat:

“Unite the union represents hundreds of workers at all levels in the ambulance service in Northern Ireland. We absolutely condemn the actions of anyone harming our members, their vehicles or equipment while they are engaged in saving people’s lives.

“Unite is calling on the Minister for Health to join us in condemning this behaviour but more importantly to initiate a campaign to alert the public to the violence that is perpetrated against ambulance and fire and rescue services while doing their duty to save lives. Society must show zero tolerance to this kind of behaviour”, Mr McAdam concluded.