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The London Ambulance Service has released shocking footage of a patient pushing a paramedic out of a van after urinating inside of the vehicle.
The video shows the moment a 30-year-old paramedic is pushed out of an ambulance van outside Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, in west London, earlier this year.
The service said the patient then walked out of the ambulance, right past the male paramedic who was still lying on the ground.
Prior to the push, the patient verbally abused both members of the ambulance crew, and used homophobic language to the two men with long hair.
He also urinated in the ambulance.
The paramedic said: “It was very painful – so much so I thought I had broken my arm at first. There was such a sharp pain and then numbness.”
“I’m glad this went to court because it reminds people this an unacceptable way to treat us and needs to be stopped.
“We come to work to help people, not for this. I always wear a body-worn camera now and I make sure I’m never alone with some patients who I think might be a risk.”
Police were already on the scene and were quick to arrest the patient, who has been convicted and ordered to pay the paramedic compensation.
“The video footage was handed over to the police, which helped secure the patient’s conviction,” the London Ambulance Service said.
“London Ambulance Service (LAS) has invested more than £3 million in kitting out its ambulances with video cameras aimed at protecting crews.”
Chief Paramedic Dr John Martin said: “Our ambulance crews and call handlers come to work to help Londoners at times of need.
“It is one of the best jobs in the city but we cannot, and will not, accept violence or physical threat towards them.
“Working with our partners, we will do everything possible to keep them safe, including securing convictions where possible.”
LAS added: “In the last year, there were 561 reports of physical assault on ambulance crews and while many offenders will never go to court on medical grounds, there were 38 successful prosecutions.
“In the same year LAS submitted 156 clips of video evidence to police.
“LAS joined ambulance services across the country to launch a ‘Work Without Fear’ campaign to promote a no-violence culture and help create a safer work environment for front-line staff and volunteers.
“The Service also has a dedicated violence reduction unit to encourage colleagues to report all incidents of abuse while also supporting them through the court process.”
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