Public-sector union Unison has called for a review on how ambulance-service blacklists are compiled.
Currently there are more than 8500 homes on the list, all of which have a history of violence against paramedics. Ambulance staff who attend these premises are not allowed to enter until the police arrive on the scene. But Unison claims that this protection is not always forthcoming.
The group also believes that both local authorities and the police are aware of many additional dangerous addresses, and is therefore demanding a review of the system to ensure that the list is kept up to date.
A Unison spokesperson told SHP: “At present police forces and local authorities up and down the country have information on numerous additional addresses that have a history of violence towards paramedics. The problem is that there are no national guidelines in place to ensure that this information is efficiently added to the blacklist.
“We would suggest that the current system is reviewed and new guidelines are created to ensure the list is up to date. We are also appealing for better cooperation between the police and ambulance services to ensure that paramedics receive the correct level of protection when they visit blacklisted addresses.”
