ATTACKS on front-line emergency staff have increased dramatically over the past year with physical assaults on staff in Belfast increasing by 21 per cent, new findings have shown.
The Health and Social Care (HSC) Chairs Forum has warned that employees are facing "rising levels of unacceptable verbal and physical abuse" that is leading to resignations in some cases.
The organisation comprises chairs of all the north's health trusts, along with the Public Health Agency, Health and Social Care Board and the NI Fire and Rescue Service.
Its research found that in the Belfast trust area, more than 2,500 assaults on staff were recorded in a six month period. This amounts to a 21 per cent increase on the previous year.
Meanwhile, ambulance service staff recorded over 600 incidents of violence or aggression during the year.
The forum said attacks include hitting, biting, spitting, and verbal abuse. It said some staff have also faced sexual assault and abuse directed at them on social media.
The forum's members have written to all MLAs to urge unified support for all staff and a united public health message on reducing the risk of Covid by following guidence on social distancing and mask wearing.
Chair of the HSC Chairs' Forum, Peter McNaney, said: "We are appalled by the increase in the levels of violence towards staff who are already exhausted and continuing to care for people in very difficult conditions. This is beyond intolerable."
Health minister Robin Swann said he was "committed to reducing the risk of violence and aggression wherever possible and creating a safe environment for staff, patients and others who use the services".