Ambulance officers are reporting an alarming rise in abuse and assaults, with incidents now occurring daily across the country.
Hato Hone St John said the holiday period had been particularly challenging, with crews threatened, attacked and, in some cases, requiring hospital treatment.
"We’ve had ambulance officers abused. We’ve had people kicked and assaulted. We’ve even had two ambulance staff who’ve had to have treatment in an emergency department, secondary to an assault from a patient they were treating," Dan Ohs from St John Ambulance told 1News.
Ohs, who has worked on the frontline for more than two decades, said violence was not confined to high-risk areas or late-night callouts.
"Alcohol and drugs are often a factor. Sometimes medical problems are also a factor but, right now, there’s no consistent trend in violent or aggressive incidents towards our staff."
Revealed: The shocking violence suffered by ambulance officers - Watch on TVNZ+
More than 300 assaults on ambulance staff were recorded last year – a 10% increase year-on-year.
Mark Quin from the NZ Ambulance Association said respect for the uniform has eroded.
"Once upon a time, particularly when I came into the service in the mid-'90s, the uniform was respected. That seems to have changed."
'For some people it's career-ending'
The problem wasn’t unique to New Zealand. In Australia, paramedics were also increasingly in the line of fire.
"We have had paramedics spat at, kicked, punched, pushed, whipped with their own stethoscope," Ambulance Victoria's Vanessa Gorman said.
"It’s sad, it’s distressing and, for some people, it’s career-ending," paramedic Alexandra Hemsley added.
Back home, the risks were so acute that crews were sometimes forced to choose between helping patients or waiting for police backup.
"It’s a dilemma because sometimes those people in those situations need our help now," Quin said.
'He threatened to stab me'
Even call centre staff weren't immune to verbal threats and abuse.
One operator, who was too scared to be identified, recalled: "He threatened to stab me two times. And then he threatened that if he ever does find me, he will stab me and he will kick me."
Many staff required counselling after being left physically and mentally scarred.
St John said enough was enough.
"Our people have the right to come to work and be safe and the right to help people without being abused, threatened or assaulted," Ohs said. "If they are, they will leave, and people need to consider that when they’re making their health choices."
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