EEAST Ambulance is launching a campaign for staff to deal with threats

Resources available for staff include case studies, videos, guidance packs and online question and answer sessions.

The campaign also highlights the importance of using body-worn cameras, which need to be activated by the ambulance worker but can record images for use in a later prosecution.

The cameras were tested in 2022 and are being rolled out in the EEAST, with all staff encouraged to wear them for protection.

Alistair Livingstone, EEAST’s health, safety and security specialist, said there were “too many incidents of our colleagues being attacked, either physically or verbally”.

“It’s completely unacceptable,” he said.

Neill Moloney, chief executive of EEAST, said: “We recognize that our people work in dynamic, often unpredictable environments and we cannot completely eliminate the risk of violence and bullying.

“What we can do with the campaign is give our people the knowledge, skills and equipment to protect themselves in these situations.

“This reinforces our commitment to the well-being of our people in the workplace.”

The trust said it would also review how it handled and responded to internal reports of violence and bullying, “so our colleagues can see what action is being taken”.