THE number of addresses where ambulance workers are not allowed to enter without police protection has increased dramatically, the Scottish Conservatives have said.

Figures secured under Freedom of Information legislation by the party show more than 2800 addresses across Scotland which are ‘red flagged’, up 600 per cent from 2012 when there were only 400 addresses deemed too dangerous.

The flagging means paramedics and ambulance employees require police protection before responding to a 999 call.

The addresses are singled out because of previous negative experiences where emergency service workers have been attacked or threatened.

Greater Glasgow recorded the highest number of no-go addresses for violence at 808 up from only 125 three years ago. In the Lothians there were 470 no-go addresses in 2015, a massive hike from just 86 in 2012.

Lanarkshire recorded 295 addresses unsafe this year, but only 34 in 2012 and Ayrshire & Arran had 285 no-go addresses this year but only 22 three years ago.

Scottish Conservative health spokesman Jackson Carlaw said: “Front-line ambulance staff do an incredibly important job and they have the right to go about their normal duties without fear of being attacked.

“When someone is convicted of attacking a paramedic, the punishment should be severe enough to make it plainly clear that this will not be tolerated.

“At a time when budgets are constrained, we cannot afford to have ambulances waiting outside no-go addresses. "This can also stop other crews from attending other life-threatening emergencies.

“Violence should not be tolerated and the SNP government need to be looking at cracking down on those who attack our front-line emergency workers.”

The Scottish government's health improvement minister Jamie Hepburn said: "Attacks against NHS staff are clearly unacceptable and ambulance staff should be treated at all time with the respect they deserve.

"Unfortunately, evidence shows that incidents of violent and aggressive abuse are a serious factor for healthcare workers.

"The Scottish government takes the safety of our NHS staff very seriously, that is why they have the support of their police colleagues and are also protected by the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act, which can impose a penalty of up to 12 months imprisonment, a £10,000 fine, or both for those who attack our staff."

A spokesman for the Scottish Ambulance Service said: "Every year, ambulance crews report incidents of physical assault, ranging from pushing and punching to spitting and attack with a variety of weapons. "They deserve more respect for their dedication to patient care, often provided in the most challenging of situations. "In most of these incidents alcohol is a key factor in the aggressive behaviour of patients."

 

Scottish Ambulance Service 'red flag' warnings of potential violence at domestic addresses (by health board area)

                                    2015        2012
Greater Glasgow            808          125
Lothians                        470           86
Lanarkshire                   295           34
Ayrshire & Arran            285           22
Argyll & Clyde                246           n/a
Grampian                      168           17
Fife                               152           53
Tayside                         145           29
Borders                          88             5
Forth Valley                    87          n/a
Highlands                       62             6
Dumfries & Galloway       30             7
Northern Isles                  5              0
Western Isles                   5              0