The Chair of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, Jason Killens, has urged ministers to explore new national policy interventions to combat the increasing violence against UK ambulance staff.
This call to action follows alarming new data showing a record high in reported incidents of violence, aggression, and abuse directed at ambulance personnel.
In the 2024-25 financial year, UK ambulance services reported 22,536 incidents of violence, marking a nearly 15% increase from the previous year. This equates to at least 62 ambulance staff being abused or attacked daily, with incidents ranging from verbal abuse to serious physical assaults involving weapons.
The March 2025 NHS Staff Survey revealed that 38% of frontline NHS ambulance staff experienced physical violence at work in the past year, yet only 76% reported these assaults. Additionally, 52% faced harassment, bullying, or abuse from patients, their relatives, or the public.
AACE Managing Director, Anna Parry, said:
“These new figures are beyond worrying and underline the upsetting fact that ambulance employees face the very real possibility of being subject to violence or abuse each time they start a shift, which is just unacceptable. This can have a significant and lasting impact on wellbeing and can sometimes even lead to people leaving the ambulance service.
“Our ongoing #WorkWithoutFear campaign is shining a light on this alarming issue and raising awareness of the negative impact of this behaviour on our people, while a significant amount of work is ongoing within ambulance services to help better protect our workforce.”
AACE data indicates that the summer months see the highest number of violent incidents, with alcohol, drugs, and mental health crises being significant contributing factors. Race and sexuality have also become exacerbating factors in these assaults.
AACE is using the spring season to highlight the profound impact of this abuse on ambulance staff and to encourage respect for those providing critical care. Over the past four years, reported incidents have steadily increased, with the 2024/25 figure being the highest on record.
The NHS Confederation has issued a response to this data, with Acute Director Rory Deighton saying:
“It is deeply concerning that there has been a 15 per cent increase in the reporting of violent incidents against ambulance staff. It is unacceptable and can have a significant impact on staff health and wellbeing.
“The safety of all NHS staff is non-negotiable. Everyone should be able to go to work without the fear that they might be attacked or assaulted while doing their job.
“After one of the toughest winters for the ambulance service we’ve seen in years, we cannot have a summer with yet another spike in cases of violence faced by crews when they are responding to and helping those most in need in life-threatening emergencies every single day.”
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