A paramedic has raised the prospect of ambulance crews being armed after his colleague was bitten by a patient in Staffordshire.
Frustrated Mike Duggan claimed paramedics are ‘continually at risk’ and wondered if the time had come for ambulance crews to carry ‘protective spray or defence weapons’.
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On Saturday night David Lynch, 31, was attacked by a man who sunk his teeth into the NHS man’s arm breaking the skin.
It is not the first time the nine year West Midlands Ambulance Service veteran has faced the wrath of the people he is trying nurse back to health.
He said: ‘I ended up trying to restrain the man, who was suffering behavioural issues. He bit me on the left arm.
‘I have been assaulted previously – once I was punched in the face by a patient.’
Rob Marsh, paramedic operational manager, tweeted: ‘Off to check on one of my team who got bitten by a patient yesterday!! Yes bitten. Broke the skin, antibiotics and all sorts. It gets worse and worse.’
Paramedic Mike Duggan replied: ‘What the actual hell is wrong with people? Is it time that we carry protective spray or defensive weapons when we are continually at risk? #protecttheprotectors.’
On Sunday Kirsty Sharman, of Parsonage Street, Stoke-on-Trent, wrote an abusive note to paramedics who parked on her street and swore at the crew.
Mr Duggan shared a picture of the note and spoke of his sadness at the growing level of hostility facing the emergency services.
He said: ‘People seem to have no respect for the work we’re doing or the fact we’re helping someone.
‘We don’t block roads for the sake of it. We do it to try and save lives. We are seeing more and more abuse – this was not an isolated incident.
At North Staffordshire Justice Centre in Stoke today Sharman was fined £120 and was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and £135 costs.
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