East Derry UUP calls for action on healthcare workers rights
The East Derry Ulster Unionist Association, in its New Year message to constituents, called for tougher health workers protection laws.
The Party said it is 'absolutely vital' to have a fully functioning devolved Assembly as soon as possible so that steps can be taken at Stormont, which would make 'attacks on health workers and the emergency services an even more serious criminal offence'.
Mr Robert Carmichael, the Constituency Association Chairman, said:
"We regularly hear about shocking and deplorable attacks on our mercy workers, and this clearly emphasises the urgent need for the creation of even more tougher laws making it a very specific criminal offence to attack the emergency services as well as staff in hospitals.
“But this can only be effectively achieved if we have Stormont back in business.”
The UUP Association Chairman said if the yob culture of attacking ‘mercy workers’ was not urgently addressed, a serious situation could arise across the North whereby martial arts-style self-defence training would have to be given to firefighters and to doctors and nurses working in hospital Accident and Emergency units.
Mr Carmichael added: “The people who work for the emergency services also need to have their human rights recognised, too. We urgently need the introduction of even more radical measures to protect fire fighters and paramedics when they are on their ‘mercy missions’.
“No democratic society should tolerate any type of attack - whether physical or verbal - on those whose job it is to save lives. There must be a zero tolerance attitude adopted towards the mindless thugs in our community who are perpetrating these attacks on fire appliances, ambulances, their crews as well as on GPs, nurses and other health workers.
“There must be greater use of cameras and video recording equipment on emergency vehicles in the short-term. We do not want the situation to deteriorate to the level that emergency crews cannot respond to a call because of a danger to their own lives.
“Similarly, in A and E units, we do not want the situation to arise where hospitals have to provide American-style ‘panic rooms’, which are secure units where medical staff can lock themselves away in the event of serious attacks breaking out.
"If words are not followed up effectively by solutions which work practically for the benefit of the emergency staff, then the nightmare scenario could become a reality where armed guards are required to either patrol A and E units, or escort fire engines and ambulances during their ‘mercy missions’. Again, this nightmare scenario can only be avoided if devolved government is again restored at Stormont,” said the Association Chairman.
Mr Carmichael also wished every constituent a very Happy New Year and a prosperous 2024 and said he hoped the North in general, and East Derry in particular, would “witness good governance in 2024”.