A female paramedic with a 37-year career was knocked to the ground and subjected to a sustained attack outside Altnagelvin Area Hospital in Derry, The Journal reported.
The incident began at approximately 5:45 pm on Saturday, November 7, when the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service dispatched crews to the Glenshane Road area for a male patient, according to the Belfast Telegraph and the BBC. Following initial treatment at the scene, the patient was transported by ambulance to the hospital, where the assault occurred during the transfer from the stretcher to a chair.
The patient punched the female paramedic in the face, knocking her down and dislodging her glasses, according to the BBC. The second paramedic attempted to intervene but was forced back when the assailant tried to punch her as well, the Belfast Telegraph reported.
The assailant then turned back to the first paramedic, launching a sustained assault that lasted several minutes as she lay helpless, according to the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. The paramedic sustained injuries to the back of her head, neck, face, and hands, alongside a suspected concussion, the BBC reported.
Jenny Keane, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, said she was horrified and outraged by the incident, noting that the physical injuries may heal but expressing concern over the psychological impact on the staff involved.
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan and SDLP representative Sinéad McLaughlin both condemned the attack, calling for zero tolerance of abuse against health and social care workers, according to the Belfast Telegraph and the Irish Mirror.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed that a suspect has been identified and that enquiries into the assault are continuing, the Belfast Telegraph reported.
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