Emergency paramedics will not enter 14 East End homes without police
Woman critically ill after being struck by lightning in park - Credit: Archant
Paramedics will not enter 14 East End homes without police for fear of being attacked or abused by patients.
The London Ambulance Service’s location alert register holds nearly 400 addresses across the capital at which staff have either been attacked, threatened with a weapon or verbally abused in the past.
A total of 13 of the homes on the list are located in Tower Hamlets while another 11 are found within the neighbouring borough of Newham, some of which don’t require police to accompany ambulance staff.
Crews called out on emergencies to any of these addresses are alerted beforehand to help them prepare for a “potentially dangerous situation,” said ambulance operations manager Athar Khan.
“At least one member of ambulance staff is attacked every day in London and at least two are verbally abused.
“We have a duty to protect our staff and let them know if they’re about to be sent into a potentially violent situation.
“We have to balance the need to protect our staff and the need of the patient.”
Most Read
- 1 Single van racks up £36k of fines in Tower Hamlets
- 2 Delayed Canary Wharf 'portacabin' hotel hopes to open in 2022
- 3 Man jailed for rape after attacking woman walking back from Canning Town
- 4 Free vegan food at Spitalfields Market
- 5 Liveable Streets: Councillors remove some Brick Lane closures after 'backlash'
- 6 Housing association apologises after sewage leaks at Isle of Dogs tower blocks
- 7 Trio accused of Bow Lock murder were 'associates' of victim 'Aqil' Mahdi
- 8 Strike action will hit Central and Victoria line Night Tube services this weekend
- 9 County lines drug dealer jailed
- 10 East London man charged with six terrorism offences
Incidents are logged by their severity across four categories.
Homes where there has been a category one or two incident — where staff have been physically attacked, threatened with a weapon or intimidated — will not be entered without a police presence.
Category three incidents are where a staff member has been verbally abused and category four incidents include situations where a medical condition was a contributing factor.
The list is reviewed and amended every 12 months and letters are sent out to individuals at the different addresses informing they are on it and how the ambulance service will respond to their 999 calls.
