VIOLENT attacks and verbal abuse against ambulance crews are on the rise, paramedics say.

Already this year, crews in Bolton have faced people biting, punching and pushing as well as shouting, swearing and making personal insults.

Now the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) has pledged to prosecute those who attack paramedics who are called out to help them.

One ambulance worker has told The Bolton News of her experiences, which include being spat at and being left in tears after a torrent of abuse.

Zoe Griffiths has worked for the Ambulance Service for four years, moving from technician to paramedic a few months ago. In her short career, the 27-year-old, has faced abuse on numerous occasions.

She said: “The worst time was when a patient was shouting and swearing — and then spat in my face. It was horrible. I don’t come to work to be spat at I come to help people. Another time, a patient was being very personal with their verbal abuse — talking about how I looked, my weight and my age. I was in tears.

“I have heard about colleagues being slapped and punched, and having knives pulled on them. It is scary and it makes you worry when you go on jobs. We have had to ask for police back-up a lot more.”

So far this year, here have been three physical assaults on Bolton paramedics.

In one incident, a crew member was bitten on the hand in an argument between two women.

In other attack, a patient tried to punch a paramedic then chased them and the patient’s relative pushed a crew member.

On average, there has been one physical attack every three weeks this year, compared to one a month between April and December, 2008.

The rise in assaults has come despite a campaign by the NWAS. Del Wray, Greater Manchester area director for the NWAS, said: “It is totally unacceptable that emergency workers should face aggression.

“We are committed to addressing this issue and, as part of this, we launched the Stop Abuse campaign last November with other partner agencies.”

cherry.thomas@theboltonnews.co.uk