Female paramedic punched and bit by patient

A Northern Ireland Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival at the scene a female paramedic was assaulted by the patient who punched and bit her. The paramedic removed herself from the scene in an attempt to calm the situation only to be attacked a second time by the patient whom she had arrived to help. This second assault resulted in the Paramedic sustaining a head injury. PSNI arrived at the scene and arrested the assailant.”

He continued: “Calls to NIAS in the early hours of the morning are normally serious in nature and NIAS staff are focussed on providing life-saving care. They do not expect that while providing treatment that they will be assaulted by the actual patient. Attacks on our crews continue at a rate of more than five-a-week.”