NORTH West Ambulance Service have launched a scheme to help protect their workers from violence and abuse.

Over the past five years, more than 2,359 incidents of threatening language and violence have been reported by NWAS staff in Greater Manchester.

These range from verbal threats and homophobic language to sexual assaults and using weapons.

Last year, paramedic Amanda Beames was stabbed with a pen multiple times while attending to a patient in the back of an ambulance.

The 39-year-old said the incident has had an adverse effect on her life - both at work and at home.

She said: "It really changed me as a person, how I thought about the job and it really crossed over into my home life.

"It continued and carried on to the point where I couldn't actually do my job and I ended up being off work for six months, being diagnosed with PTSD, I've had CBT, counselling, I have medication.

"I've thrown myself back into the job because that's the person I am and nothing will ever get me back to how I was back then."

As well as front-line workers the #GetBehind999 campaign is aimed at giving people behind the scenes more of a voice as well.

Martin Sheehan, 35, works as an Emergency Medical Dispatcher and he's faced torrents of abuse from people over the phone, in the four years he has worked for the service.

One call in particular lasted 20 minutes, in which he was threatened to be stabbed, shot and "called every name under the sun", despite it being his job to help vulnerable people.

Speaking at the launch of the scheme at the NWAS Headquarters, on Chorley New Road, Interim Chief Executive Mick Forrest explained serious the situation is.

He said: "This is a problem which affects us all.

"If an ambulance crew are attacked while out on the road, they need to come off duty. They might need treatment, or to provide the police with with statements and this takes a vital resource off the road and unable to respond to an emergency.

To support the campaign, there is a pledge available to sign at www.nwas.nhs.uk, as well as the NWAS Facebook and Twitter pages.

Groups, clubs and businesses can also publicly pledge their support by emailing communcations@nwas.nhs.uk.

Mr Forrest added: "Please pledge your support and sign now, show our staff you are behind them.

"It will mean a great deal to them to know that the public they serve are taking a stand against this kind of behaviour."