PARAMEDICS and ambulance staff can suffer injuries at work from a number of different causes, from manual handling to violence.
Figures obtained by Personal Injury Claims UK found that, in the past three years, nearly 100 Welsh Ambulance Service staff have been injured whilst on duty in Powys.
Ambulance staff often face a high risk of physical and psychological injuries due to the nature of their work.
Manual handling tasks, such as lifting and moving patients, account for a large number of these injuries as they can lead to strains and sprains.
The most common manual handling injuries are musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), which can affect a person’s movement.
A report written by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) back in 2016 showed that an estimated 8.8 million working days were lost due to MSDs.
In 2022/23, 42 Welsh Ambulance Service staff were injured whilst working in Powys, which is the highest number of injuries in the past three years.
Over the past year, the service has seen a decrease in staff injuries, with a total of 16 reported.
Staff can also experience psychological distress, including post-traumatic stress disorder, due to exposure to trauma and violence.
Figures from the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) revealed that over 20,000 incidents of violence, aggression and abuse were directed at staff across the fourteen UK ambulance services in the 2024/25 financial year.
The number of incidents is the highest ever recorded in the sector and equates to at least 55 ambulance staff being abused or attacked every single day, ranging from common assault to serious attacks.
Personal Injury Claims UK also obtained figures on the main injury causes logged by the Welsh Ambulance Service across its overall service area over the past three years.
Manual handling of patients was the most common cause, resulting in 573 injuries, followed by slips, trips and falls, which led to 331 injuries.
Due to the recent rise in violent incidents, NHS ambulance services have undertaken a number of initiatives alongside the #WorkWithoutFear campaign to prioritise the safety of their workers, as well as trying to effect behavioural change amongst those who may carry out these assaults.
Speaking on the figures released by the AACE, UNISON national ambulance officer Sharan Bandesha said: “No one should be attacked for simply doing their job. Ambulance workers who respond to emergencies, from heart attacks to car crashes, are trying to save lives.
“Rising pressure on the health service has created a toxic environment where violence and abuse are becoming far too common. This is unacceptable. Staff are being left traumatised, injured and even forced out of roles, which makes the workforce crisis worse.”
Personal Injury Claims UK offers support to those who have suffered injuries whilst at work and can see if they have grounds to submit a claim.
They operate a 24-hour helpline, with an online claim form too, which you can access on their website.
