Union slams 'unacceptable risks' to NI paramedics in policy shift

Unite has challenged the decision to roll out phase two of the Right Care Right Person programme in Northern Ireland. In the second phase of the programme [which commenced on November 1 2026] the PSNI no longer call out to conduct checks on individuals' welfare and instead the responsibility falls to health workers, including paramedics and GPs. They will now have to engage deemed to be at risk - including cases of suspected mental health breakdowns.

Over the weekend a team of two paramedics were attacked by an individual with one suffering serious injuries as a result.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, "Unite was very concerned to hear of this attack and are glad to hear that both workers are making a recovery. This attack shows yet again the huge risks that face paramedics in their role of first responders.

“It is unbelievable that underfunding now means ambulance service workers are expected to call out to individuals with welfare concerns who would have formerly been attended to by the police."

Regional officer and former paramedic Norman Cunningham said, "Every day paramedics go to work knowing the risk that those they're trying to help may turn on them and cause them injuries.

"Northern Ireland's ambulance service staff are working under huge strain. Funding pressures mean the service is refusing to cover commissioned services even where staff volunteer to help out. Now because of Stormont underfunding, healthcare workers have to respond to calls previously covered by the PSNI.

“This will only ramp up the pressures on workers and poses additional and unacceptable risks to our members."

Unite represents the large majority of paramedics employed by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. Its members are continuing industrial action short of strike action over the failure to address staffing shortages and a threat to impose non-family friendly shifts.