Ambulance service steps up action to protect staff from violence and aggression
Staff safety improvements announced by South East ambulance service
South East Coast Ambulance Service is strengthening measures to protect frontline staff following a review by its Shadow Board.
The Shadow Board, made up of SECAmb colleagues, was asked to examine the violence and aggression experienced by staff and make recommendations for improvements.
Actions now being taken include closer partnership working with police and mental health services, better coordination between SECAmb teams managing violence and aggression risks, improved access to body-worn cameras, and strengthened staff training.
Reported incidents of violence and aggression at SECAmb more than doubled from 752 in 2019 to 1,529 in 2024, before falling to 1,421 in 2025.
The Trust says the latest measures are designed to further reduce incidents and improve the safety and support available to colleagues across the service.
Further progress will be reported to the Shadow Board in six months.
SECAmb's Chief Paramedic Officer Jaqui Lindridge said the work was helping to make progress in improving the safety of teams, while acknowledging that more needs to be done.
The Shadow Board was established last year to give staff a direct voice at Trust Board level and provide constructive challenge based on their experiences.
The changes are aimed at ensuring ambulance staff feel safe, supported and confident that incidents of violence and aggression will be taken seriously and acted upon.