{"id":28204,"date":"2025-05-21T05:08:43","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T05:08:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/?p=28204"},"modified":"2025-05-21T10:30:30","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T10:30:30","slug":"attacked-paramedics-hope-for-swifter-court-justice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/?p=28204","title":{"rendered":"Attacked paramedics hope for swifter court justice"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-component=\"byline-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dEGcKf\">\n<div data-testid=\"byline-new\" class=\"sc-801dd632-0 eSlECZ\">\n<div class=\"sc-801dd632-1 eeJXtz\">5 hours ago<\/p>\n<p><button disabled type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Share\" class=\"sc-42d8a745-2 sc-42d8a745-5 sc-42d8a745-6 bHDbVj ffpPdD htCKMu\"><span data-testid=\"button-icon-wrapper\" class=\"sc-42d8a745-0 jNAQSQ\"><\/span><span data-testid=\"button-text\" aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"sc-42d8a745-1 cwJkjb\">Share<\/span><\/button><button disabled type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Save\" class=\"sc-42d8a745-2 sc-42d8a745-5 sc-42d8a745-6 bcpeIB fxnHdQ fYsCgf\"><span data-testid=\"button-icon-wrapper\" class=\"sc-42d8a745-0 jNAQSQ\"><\/span><span data-testid=\"button-text\" aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"sc-42d8a745-1 cwJkjb\">Save<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"byline-new-contributors\" class=\"sc-801dd632-12 jSIeFi\">\n<div class=\"sc-801dd632-5 kRoBHa\">\n<div><span class=\"sc-801dd632-7 lasLGY\">Joanne Writtle<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Health correspondent, BBC Midlands<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><button disabled type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Share\" class=\"sc-42d8a745-2 sc-42d8a745-5 sc-42d8a745-6 bHDbVj ffpPdD htCKMu\"><span data-testid=\"button-icon-wrapper\" class=\"sc-42d8a745-0 jNAQSQ\"><\/span><span data-testid=\"button-text\" aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"sc-42d8a745-1 cwJkjb\">Share<\/span><\/button><button disabled type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Save\" class=\"sc-42d8a745-2 sc-42d8a745-5 sc-42d8a745-6 bcpeIB fxnHdQ fYsCgf\"><span data-testid=\"button-icon-wrapper\" class=\"sc-42d8a745-0 jNAQSQ\"><\/span><span data-testid=\"button-text\" aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"sc-42d8a745-1 cwJkjb\">Save<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 gyQxwn\">\n<div data-testid=\"hero-image\" class=\"sc-4abb68ca-1 eOgpjw\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/cf8d9a30-358d-11f0-9b2c-138cad92aeb3.jpg.webp\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"BBC A paramedic wearing a dark green uniform which has an NHS label on. It also has an ambulance badge on it and he is also wearing a blue and white NHS lanyard. The man has auburn hair and and a beard and is smiling at the camera. \" class=\"sc-4abb68ca-0 ldLcJe\" \/><span class=\"sc-4abb68ca-2 kkAKIJ\">BBC<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dEGcKf\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS\">Last summer, as people watched England in the Euro 2024 final, paramedic Jacob Hoy was on a night shift. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS\">He was called to a football fan in Birmingham, reportedly in cardiac arrest &#8211; but the patient was drunk and Mr Hoy said he was attacked. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS\">&#8220;He grabbed hold of my wrist, twisted it and it caused a sprain to my wrist,&#8221; he said. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS\">Mr Hoy is among West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) workers who have welcomed new Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) guidance aimed at bringing swifter sentences for people who attack them. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dEGcKf\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS\">Mr Hoy said the assault meant he could not do his job for eight weeks. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS\">&#8220;I had to wait for time to heal because I wouldn&#8217;t have been able to lift or carry. I wouldn&#8217;t be able to do CPR for any patients,&#8221; he said. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS\">But Mr Hoy said it was not an isolated incident as he had been attacked a number of times before. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS\">&#8220;If you speak to any of my colleagues that have been on the ambulance service for a year or more, they will have at least one case where they have been assaulted by a patient &#8211; either verbally, physically, sexually or racially,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS\">The man who attacked him was cautioned under a scheme targeting alcohol-related violence. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS\">WMAS has 30 cases involving 37 front-line workers either waiting for a court date or with such a date not set until August 2026. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 hoQmHM\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"sc-4abb68ca-1 eOgpjw\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/grey-placeholder-1.png\" class=\"sc-4abb68ca-0 itgEAh hide-when-no-script\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/e825af10-358d-11f0-9b2c-138cad92aeb3.jpg.webp\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"An ambulance worker wearing a dark green uniform looks at the camera. He is wearing glasses and his uniform has an NHS logo and service badge. Behind him the yellow of an ambulance is in view. \" class=\"sc-4abb68ca-0 ldLcJe\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dEGcKf\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS\">Dan Knight, WMAS&#8217; head of security and safety, said:  &#8220;We&#8217;re seeing more cases going through the legal system, which is a positive for us.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS\">&#8220;But unfortunately, because of that, we are now seeing a delay in the number of cases seen in court and getting an outcome on those cases &#8211; which is having an impact on staff morale.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS\">Steve Raven, who was assaulted while on duty as a paramedic in Leominster, Herefordshire in 2022, told an anti-violence campaign by the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives it had a huge impact on him. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS\">&#8220;I thought I was going to die,&#8221; he said, adding the attack &#8220;broke my jaw, caused facial nerve damage and affected me mentally as well&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS\">The man who punched him was <a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/uk-england-hereford-worcester-64496796\" class=\"sc-f9178328-0 bGFWdi\">jailed for two years<\/a> in February 2024, after admitting grievous bodily harm and criminal damage.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 hoQmHM\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"sc-4abb68ca-1 eOgpjw\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/grey-placeholder-1.png\" class=\"sc-4abb68ca-0 itgEAh hide-when-no-script\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/55466620-359d-11f0-8947-7d6241f9fce9.png.webp\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"WMAS A side view of a man&#039;s face which is cut. He has grey hair and is wearing a blue medical face mask. His ear is also cut with dried blood on it. \" class=\"sc-4abb68ca-0 ldLcJe\" \/><span class=\"sc-4abb68ca-2 kkAKIJ\">WMAS<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dEGcKf\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS\">Earlier this month, the CPS issued <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cps.gov.uk\/cps\/news\/assaults-against-emergency-workers-update-cps-prosecution-guidance\" class=\"sc-f9178328-0 bGFWdi\">new guidance<\/a> with the hope of getting faster justice for emergency workers assaulted while on duty. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS\">The move means prosecutors will now be able to pick a charge which best fits the seriousness of the case, including those that can be dealt with more quickly in magistrates&#8217; courts.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS\">A spokesperson said they hoped it would help reduce backlogs in the court system.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS\">The news has given some workers who have been attacked, including Mr Hoy, more optimism. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS\">&#8220;A lot of the time me and my colleagues don&#8217;t generally report [assaults] because we don&#8217;t have faith that the prosecution will happen,&#8221; said Mr Hoy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS\">&#8220;But after hearing the new CPS guidance, that they&#8217;re pushing to get more people through magistrates&#8217; court rather than having to wait for crown court, it makes me more hopeful.&#8221; <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dEGcKf\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS\">Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice announced an independent review to address court backlogs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS\">&#8216;It is clear there are many cases taking far too long to be heard,&#8221; a spokesperson said. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"links-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dHQIrb\">\n<div class=\"sc-666b6d83-0 sc-c4fb5674-0 gMiqnK bPmazG\"><span data-testid=\"links-title\" class=\"sc-c4fb5674-2 jdmgui\">More on this story<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"links-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dHQIrb\">\n<div class=\"sc-666b6d83-0 sc-c4fb5674-0 gMiqnK iuHqSH\"><span data-testid=\"links-title\" class=\"sc-c4fb5674-2 jdmgui\">Internet links<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>5 hours agoShareSaveJoanne WrittleHealth correspondent, BBC MidlandsShareSaveBBCLast summer, as people watched England in the Euro 2024 final, paramedic Jacob Hoy was on a night shift. He was called to a football fan in Birmingham, reportedly in cardiac arrest &#8211; but the patient was drunk and Mr Hoy said he was attacked. &#8220;He grabbed hold of my wrist, twisted it and it caused a sprain to my wrist,&#8221; he said. Mr Hoy is among West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) workers who have welcomed new Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) guidance aimed at bringing swifter sentences for people who attack them. Mr Hoy said the assault meant he could not do his job for eight weeks. &#8220;I had to wait for time to heal because I wouldn&#8217;t have been able to lift or carry. I wouldn&#8217;t be able to do CPR for any patients,&#8221; he said. But Mr Hoy said it was not an isolated incident as he had been attacked a number of times before. &#8220;If you speak to any of my colleagues that have been on the ambulance service for a year or more, they will have at least one case where they have been assaulted by a patient &#8211; either verbally, physically, sexually or racially,&#8221; he added.The man who attacked him was cautioned under a scheme targeting alcohol-related violence. WMAS has 30 cases involving 37 front-line workers either waiting for a court date or with such a date not set until August 2026. Dan Knight, WMAS&#8217; head of security and safety, said: &#8220;We&#8217;re seeing more cases going through the legal system, which is a positive for us.&#8221;But unfortunately, because of that, we are now seeing a delay in the number of cases seen in court and getting an outcome on those cases &#8211; which is having an impact on staff morale.&#8221; Steve Raven, who was assaulted while on duty as a paramedic in Leominster, Herefordshire in 2022, told an anti-violence campaign by the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives it had a huge impact on him. &#8220;I thought I was going to die,&#8221; he said, adding the attack &#8220;broke my jaw, caused facial nerve damage and affected me mentally as well&#8221;.The man who punched him was jailed for two years in February 2024, after admitting grievous bodily harm and criminal damage.WMASEarlier this month, the CPS issued new guidance with the hope of getting faster justice for emergency workers assaulted while on duty. The move means prosecutors will now be able to pick a charge which best fits the seriousness of the case, including those that can be dealt with more quickly in magistrates&#8217; courts. A spokesperson said they hoped it would help reduce backlogs in the court system.The news has given some workers who have been attacked, including Mr Hoy, more optimism. &#8220;A lot of the time me and my colleagues don&#8217;t generally report [assaults] because we don&#8217;t have faith that the prosecution will happen,&#8221; said Mr Hoy.&#8221;But after hearing the new CPS guidance, that they&#8217;re pushing to get more people through magistrates&#8217; court rather than having to wait for crown court, it makes me more hopeful.&#8221; Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice announced an independent review to address court backlogs.&#8217;It is clear there are many cases taking far too long to be heard,&#8221; a spokesperson said. More on this storyInternet links<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27663,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28204","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28204","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=28204"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28204\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28210,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28204\/revisions\/28210"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/27663"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=28204"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=28204"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=28204"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}