MSP calls for more support for ambulance staff in Lanarkshire over 'red flagged' address concerns

Lanarkshire MSP Graham Simpson has expressed "deep concern" over addresses that have been “red flagged” to ambulance staff across Scotland.

A Freedom of Information Request from the Scottish Conservatives shows that nearly 450 addresses have been identified as ones where Scottish Ambulance Staff are not allowed to enter without the presence of police.

The highest number of red flagged addresses come with Glasgow and Edinburgh postcodes, with 107 and 83 addresses identified in these areas, respectively.

In areas of Lanarkshire with an ‘ML’ postcode, the freedom of information request revealed 42 warnings have been identified – the third highest in the country.

Central Scotland Tory MSP Graham Simpson raised concerns over the figures and highlighted how police and ambulance staff may struggle to link up, given that, under the SNP, police officer numbers in Scotland are at their lowest level since 2008.

He says that one attack on an emergency service worker in Lanarkshire is one too many and more action must be taken to keep them safe.

"These figures are deeply concerning", said Mr Simpson.

"This is not an inconsiderable number of addresses that have been red-flagged in Lanarkshire for our dedicated ambulance staff.

"One attack on any ambulance worker in our region is one too many.

"With police officer numbers at their lowest number since 2008 across Scotland, I am also concerned that they may not be able to easily link up with ambulance crews when called upon at a particular address.

"It is clear from the number of red-flagged addresses in ‘ML’ postcodes that much more needs to be done to keep our ambulance workers safe, including ensuring that our courts take the toughest action against those who assault them.

"That is the very least that should be done to ensure frontline staff can feel safe while going about their work."

The Scottish Ambulance Service said its staff should not fear for their safety when working and that these measures have been put in place "to help protect them" while they do their job.

A spokesperson said: "Individual addresses where staff have previously faced violence or threatening behaviour are automatically flagged to our crews, who can then request additional support, if they believe it is required.

"Our staff are trained in assessing risk and managing aggression so that they can make a sensible decision based on the circumstances. However, getting to the sickest patients is always our priority, regardless of whether the police are in attendance."

The deployment of resources is a policing matter for the Chief Constable.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Should any request for assistance be received from SAS (Scottish Ambulance Service) with regard to attending addresses we will respond as appropriate. We will continue to support our emergency service colleagues as required.”

Describing assaults on our NHS staff as "despicable", the Scottish Government told us that "no one should be the victim of abuse or violence while at work" and that "those caught must be dealt with in the strongest possible terms".

The Emergency Workers Act enables penalties of up to 12 months imprisonment, a £10,000 fine, or both, to be imposed following conviction for offences against ambulance staff.

A spokesperson added: "Scotland now has a higher number of officers than there were in 2007– and more per head of population than England and Wales."

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