Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has said it is past time for action to tackle those who attack ambulance staff.
The South Belfast MLA was speaking after it was revealed there have been 2,278 reported incidents of abuse on ambulance staff here since 2012/13, with 483 coming in the past year.
“No public servant should go to work fearing they may be subject to attack. It is unacceptable ambulance staff are operating in such appalling circumstances that almost two work days are lost for every day in the year,” said Ms Bradshaw.
“Almost 900 cases of physical abuse in just six years is an almost unbelievable figure, and will cause widespread revulsion across the community. Added to the even greater number of cases of disruption, and we see a situation which plainly cannot be allowed to continue.
“I fully share the Ambulance Service’s implicit view we all have a role in making attacks on public workers socially unacceptable. Whatever the circumstances, there is simply no excuse whatsoever for abusive behaviour of any kind to a public servant, least of all one on potentially life-saving duty.”