Wales Ambulance Service warns of rising assaults as volunteer relives sexual attack by patient

Emily Hilton, a 24‑year‑old Community First Responder, was grabbed and forcibly pulled in for a kiss while attending a 999 call on a busy Cardiff road. She says the attack “completely knocked” her confidence and almost made her quit volunteering altogether.

Although the incident happened in Cardiff, the Welsh Ambulance Service says assaults like this are happening across Wales, including in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire — and are becoming a growing threat to frontline staff and volunteers.

‘I thought he had a knife’

Emily was the first to arrive after multiple calls reporting a man had fallen from his wheelchair. As she tried to assess him, he became verbally abusive, threatened to “knock her lights out”, then grabbed her by the neck and tried to kiss her.

Emily said:

“It completely knocked my confidence. In my three years of volunteering, no-one’s ever done anything like that to me before.”

She said the moment he grabbed her was terrifying.

She added:

“He pulled me in, forehead‑to‑forehead. He had a vape in his hand and for a split second I thought it was a knife. It all happened so quickly.”

The ambulance crew arrived moments later and police were called.

Attacker convicted — but concerns remain

Craig Burgess, 48, from Cardiff, was arrested and charged with sexual assault. He was found guilty in May 2025 and sentenced last week to a community order, a fine, compensation and five years on the sex offenders register.

The Welsh Ambulance Service says the case highlights the risks faced by emergency workers and volunteers across Wales — including Community First Responders who operate in communities throughout Swansea Bay.

‘She stepped forward to help — and was assaulted’

Emma Wood, Chief Executive of the Welsh Ambulance Service, said:

“Any assault on an emergency worker is unacceptable, but what makes Emily’s experience particularly shocking is that she was volunteering her time, unpaid, to support her community.”

She said the Trust would always seek prosecution for those who harm staff or volunteers.

PC James Paget, South Wales Police, said:

“The psychological and physical effects of an assault of this nature can be long‑lasting. No‑one should have to go to work fearing they will be treated in this way.”

Wales‑wide campaign urges respect for emergency workers

The incident comes as the Joint Emergency Services Group continues its With Us, Not Against Us campaign, launched to tackle rising violence against emergency workers in Wales.

Community First Responders — including dozens who volunteer across Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Llanelli, Ammanford and rural Carmarthenshire — are often the first on scene at 999 calls and face the same risks as paid staff.

Emily says she returned to volunteering thanks to strong support from colleagues, but remains more cautious on calls.

She said:

“I did come back, but I’m definitely more mindful now about the risks.”

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Swansea ambulance manager honoured in King’s New Year Honours as Welsh Ambulance Service staff recognised

Locality Manager Cath John, who began her career in 1995, has been awarded the King’s Ambulance Service Medal (KAM) for distinguished service. Emergency Ambulance Practitioner Nigel Jones and Operational Team Leader Dean Caldwell have both been appointed MBE for their voluntary and charitable work.

Welsh Ambulance Service Chief Executive Emma Wood said the trio represented the very best of the service.

Emma Wood said:

“We’re incredibly proud of colleagues who go that extra mile for patients and their communities. These awards recognise the hard work and dedication given by Nigel, Dean and Cath over the years.”

Swansea’s Cath John receives King’s Ambulance Service Medal

Cath, who is based in Swansea, started out in non‑emergency patient transport before qualifying as an Emergency Medical Technician in 1999 and later as a Paramedic in 2004. She spent 11 years on the frontline before moving into leadership roles, including Clinical Team Leader and Operations Manager during the Covid‑19 pandemic.

She became a Locality Manager in 2021.

Cath John said:

“I’ve been with the Welsh Ambulance Service for over 30 years and I love what I do. Working here has given me so many opportunities and allowed me to work alongside some really special and dedicated people.”

Cath, 54, only discovered she was receiving the KAM when she returned from annual leave and spotted the notification buried in her inbox.

Cath John said:

“At first I didn’t know whether it was real… it only sank in when I saw my name on the official list.”

MBE for volunteer who has helped disaster zones across the world

Emergency Ambulance Practitioner Nigel Jones, from Monmouthshire, has spent decades volunteering alongside his full‑time work — from supporting veterans and mountain rescue teams to deploying with humanitarian charity REACT in disaster‑hit regions.

His voluntary work has taken him from UK Covid Nightingale hospitals to bush fires in Australia, earthquake zones in Turkey and two deployments to Ukraine.

He was volunteering in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa when he learned he had been awarded an MBE.

Nigel Jones said:

“It was a complete surprise… I never began volunteering to get recognition, but it’s a tremendous feeling to be considered in the King’s New Year Honours.”

Nigel has also completed ten marathons for charity, raising more than £10,000.

Third honour for long‑serving community volunteer

Operational Team Leader Dean Caldwell has also been appointed MBE for decades of voluntary service across South Wales — including years with Bro Radio, the RNLI at Barry Dock, HM Coastguard Search & Rescue, and Welsh Amateur Boxing.

Dean Caldwell said:

“I am truly honoured and overwhelmed. Each role has allowed me to contribute to the wellbeing and safety of others, and I accept this MBE with immense pride.”

National praise for “the very best of Britain”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised all those recognised in this year’s list.

The Prime Minister said:

“This year’s Honours list celebrates the very best of Britain – people who put the common good ahead of themselves to strengthen communities and change lives.”

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Ystalyfera cardiac arrest survivor reunited with lifesaving neighbours and ambulance crews

In March, Kealey Reilly was woken by a sound she first thought was snoring. Her husband Oliver, 38, was in fact experiencing agonal breathing — a sign of cardiac arrest.

Realising something was seriously wrong, Kealey dialled 999 while the couple’s 12‑year‑old daughter Florence ran next door to alert neighbours Hannah and Matthew Miers, both off‑duty police officers trained in CPR.

The couple took over chest compressions, assisted by another neighbour — a retired auxiliary nurse — while a public access defibrillator, installed just months earlier and located 120 metres away, was retrieved and used.

Welsh Ambulance Service paramedic Vikki Davies and emergency medical technicians Colin Read, Jamie Higgins and Gavin Treseder soon arrived, with advanced critical care support provided by the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) in a Wales Air Ambulance charity helicopter.

Oliver was taken to Morriston Hospital by ambulance, supported by the EMRTS crew, and spent three weeks in an induced coma.

“I owe my life to Kealey, Florence, and our neighbours Hannah and Matthew,” said Oliver. “Kealey’s quick reaction, Florence’s bravery in seeking help, and the strength shown by Hannah and Matthew were extraordinary. You’ve allowed me to be here today for my children and for that I will be eternally grateful.”

The Welsh Ambulance Service has formally recognised Hannah and Matthew Miers with a Chief Executive’s Commendation for their actions.

Kealey said doctors had warned Oliver might never walk or talk again, but he had defied all expectations.

“We were extremely lucky; everything was in place for him to survive. Not many people can say they’ve saved someone’s life, let alone their neighbour’s. I’m extremely grateful to Hannah and Matthew — they absolutely deserve this recognition.”

Carl Powell, Clinical Lead for Acute Care at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said Oliver’s survival showed the importance of CPR and defibrillators.

“Your chances of surviving a cardiac arrest are significantly improved if there are people trained in CPR and a defibrillator is brought to the scene. I would urge everyone to learn CPR and sign up to the GoodSAM app in Wales to help create a nation of life savers.”

The Welsh Ambulance Service, Save a Life Cymru and the Resuscitation Council UK have partnered to provide tailored support for cardiac arrest survivors, their families and bystanders, including resources for young people and co‑survivors.

#ambulance #cardiacArrest #CPR #defibrillators #EMRTS #MorristonHospital #ResuscitationCouncilUK #SaveALifeCymru #WalesAirAmbulance #WelshAmbulanceServiceTrust #Ystalyfera

Welsh Government under pressure over paramedic recruitment shortfall

Concerns have been raised over a major shortfall in paramedic recruitment in Wales, with just 20 of this year’s 67 graduates set to be hired by the Welsh Ambulance Service — despite the service requesting 86 new recruits through Welsh Government funding.

The figures, revealed by Swansea Liberal Democrat Councillor and Senedd candidate Sam Bennett, have sparked criticism from opposition parties who say the decision undermines efforts to improve ambulance response times and risks wasting public investment in training.

Bennett, who is standing for Gŵyr Abertawe (Swansea West & Gower), said:

“We cannot afford to lose these highly skilled professionals, especially not at a time when the NHS is under this much pressure.”

“It is shocking that despite funding 87 paramedic students, less than half will be recruited. That so few are to be hired is a scandal.”

The Welsh Liberal Democrats are calling on the Welsh Labour Government to urgently intervene and create more posts to absorb the newly qualified paramedics.

According to the latest performance data, 51% of red calls — the most life-threatening emergencies — are not being met within target times, while 33% of amber calls, which include heart attacks and strokes, are taking longer than an hour to respond to.

Party leader Jane Dodds MS added:

“The NHS is our top priority. Having already paid for the training, it’s a no-brainer that the Welsh Government should seize this opportunity to give paramedics more support and resources.”

The Welsh Government has not yet issued a formal response to the figures, but Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Jeremy Miles has reportedly confirmed the numbers in correspondence with the party.

The Welsh Ambulance Service has faced sustained pressure in recent years, with staff describing the job as “soul-destroying” amid long delays, staffing shortages, and rising demand.

#ambulance #JaneDoddsMS #paramedicRecruitment #paramedics #SamBennett #WelshAmbulanceServiceTrust #WelshGovernment #WelshLabour #WelshLiberalDemocrats

Welsh NHS waiting lists rise again — but ambulance handover times show marked improvement

The number of people waiting more than two years for NHS treatment in Wales has risen again, reaching 10,300 pathways in May — up 6.5% from the previous month. The overall waiting list now stands at 796,100 pathways, equivalent to nearly one in four people in Wales.

The figures have prompted criticism from opposition parties, with Welsh Conservatives accusing the Labour-led government of failing to meet its own targets. Shadow Health Secretary James Evans MS said the latest data “proves Labour’s health strategy is failing” and called for a health emergency to be declared to focus resources on reducing excessive waits.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS also condemned the figures, describing them as “a damning indictment of 25 years of Labour mismanagement in Wales.”

“These are not just numbers on a spreadsheet, they are real people left to suffer in pain, anxiety and fear. The Welsh Liberal Democrats are clear, we won’t solve the crisis in our NHS without first addressing the crisis in social care. That means ending bed blocking and also investing properly in primary care and GP services, ensuring illness is caught and treated early, not when it becomes an emergency.”

Ambulance handover times improve at Morriston and Royal Glamorgan hospitals

Despite the rise in long waits, the Welsh Government has pointed to significant improvements in ambulance patient handover times, particularly at Morriston Hospital in Swansea, where delays fell by 70% in June compared to May. At Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant, handover times dropped by 87%, with nearly three-quarters of patients transferred within 15 minutes.

Health Secretary Jeremy Miles, who visited Royal Glamorgan on Thursday, said the figures show that “our focus on improving ambulance patient handover performance is working,” and praised staff for their efforts.

A national taskforce has been established to tackle handover delays across Wales, aiming to free up ambulance crews and improve emergency department flow. The Welsh Ambulance Service also introduced a new purple category for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests on 1 July, alongside revised triage categories for other urgent conditions.

Cancer treatment and emergency care pressures

In May, more than 1,900 people started cancer treatment, and over 14,200 were told they did not have cancer, as performance against the 62-day target improved to 61.3%. However, emergency departments remain under pressure, with June recording the third-highest daily attendances on record. More than 10,000 patients waited over 12 hours in A&E — still far from meeting government targets.

Miles acknowledged the setback in long waits but said they are now 85% lower than the peak, and expressed confidence that the next set of figures will show renewed progress.

Local health board variation

According to Welsh Government data, Swansea Bay and Powys health boards currently have no pathways waiting longer than two years, while Hywel Dda and Aneurin Bevan each have fewer than 300 such cases. In contrast, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board continues to report the highest number of long waits in Wales.

#AE #AccidentAndEmergency #ambulance #ambulanceWaitingTime #healthEmergency #hospitalWaitingList #HywelDdaNHS #JamesEvansMS #Llantrisant #MorristonHospital #NHS #NHSWaitingList #RoyalGlamorganHospital #SwanseaBayNHS #waitingList #WelshAmbulanceServiceTrust #WelshConservatives #WelshGovernment

New defibrillator installed in Llanelli’s Bigyn ward to tackle cardiac arrest survival rates

A new defibrillator has been installed outside Glenalla Community Centre in Llanelli’s Bigyn ward, as part of a growing campaign to improve survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.

Town councillor Shaun Greaney, who has personally part-funded two defibrillators in the town, said the latest unit was mounted on a post previously used for a community waste bin. “The council’s initiative to increase and improve defibrillators in our town will help combat the deadly disaster of what I think are appalling survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Llanelli, which are similar to those across Wales – currently less than 5 per cent,” he said.

The rollout coincides with a major change in emergency response protocols across Wales. The Welsh Government has introduced a new ‘purple category’ for 999 calls involving suspected cardiac arrests, ensuring faster prioritisation for the most critical cases. Health Minister Jeremy Miles described the move as “decisive action to save more lives.”

Councillor Greaney, a member of the Save Our Services Prince Philip Action Network (SOSPPAN), said he welcomed the change. “It means those with cardiac arrests, who have the most urgent needs, are prioritised over people with less critical problems like breathing difficulties,” he said. “This helps ambulance teams reach people with the most urgent needs more quickly.”

Councillor Jan Williams said the new defibrillator at Glenalla Hall on Alban Road was “a vital aid in an emergency.” She added that it “makes the Bigyn area much safer and will give comfort for local residents.”

County and town councillor Phil Warlow said the device was “an item of First Aid should anyone in the area experience sudden cardiac arrest.” “Its purpose is to restore a normal heart rhythm,” he said. “The Town Council is working extremely hard to get all areas within the town covered by this extremely important lifesaving equipment.”

The defibrillator and its heated cabinet were donated by the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust, with the location approved by the county council.

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#Bigyn #CllrShaunGreaney #defibrillators #GlenallaCommunityCentre #JanWilliams #Llanelli #LlanelliTownCouncil #PhilWarlow #SOSPAN #WelshAmbulanceServiceTrust

Ambulance service to prioritise cardiac patients with new risk category

A new purple category is being introduced for people suffering from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and the red category will be retained for the life-threatening emergencies, those at high risk of cardiac or respiratory arrest, including illnesses and trauma.

The Welsh Ambulance Service say that the changes are designed to ensure more people get the life-saving help they need from the ambulance service, while those who do not need an ambulance receive more appropriate care for their needs.

The changes aim to help improve survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Wales, which are currently less than 5%.

The changes are being made in response to a recommendation from the Senedd’s Health and Social Care Committee, which concluded the existing ambulance response target is no longer appropriate or fit for purpose.

The Welsh Ambulance Service say the new approach places a greater focus on outcomes than response times.

Jeremy Miles, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, said: “We’re taking decisive action to save more lives.

“Until now, cardiac arrests have been categorised in the same way as less critical problems like breathing difficulties.

“This new approach ensures ambulance teams prioritise people with the most urgent needs.

“This targeted clinical response, combined with wider access to defibrillators in the community and improvements to hospital handovers, represents our commitment to improving survival rates.”

Jason Killens, Chief Executive of the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: “Since 1974, the ambulance service has been measured by the time it takes to reach emergency calls.

“The ambulance service of today provides much more sophisticated care, so shifting the focus to how many people survive a life-or-death emergency because of our interventions, rather than how many minutes it takes us to arrive, is an important step to reflect that.”

From tomorrow (Tuesday 1 July), ambulances will be dispatched to calls in the purple arrest category – people suffering a suspected cardiac and respiratory arrest – and red emergency category – people at high risk of cardiac and respiratory arrest, including as a result of injury and illness – as quickly as possible.

The expectation is that ambulances will respond to these calls in an average of six to eight minutes.

But the primary measure for purple calls will be the percentage of people to have a heartbeat restored after a cardiac arrest until arrival at hospital.

As part of the new model, rapid clinical screening will be undertaken for all calls not classified as purple or red.

This will ensure every call receives a more tailored approach, which takes account of a person’s symptoms and where the incident occurred.

The Welsh Ambulance Service say that this means every person will receive a tailored response to their needs.

It says that action will also be taken to improve ambulance handover at hospitals to support ambulance capacity to respond to 999 calls in the community.

The Welsh Government’s response to the Ministerial Advisory Group on NHS Performance and Productivity included developing a plan to assess the readiness of NHS Wales to deliver a maximum 45-minute ambulance patient handover time.

NHS organisations have been set clear expectations to improve ambulance patient handover and say they are actively working to drive improvements. The Welsh Government has established a national, clinically-led taskforce to support this. It will focus on emergency department processes and patient flow.

From July, the Welsh Ambulance Service will also host the NHS Wales Save a Life Cymru programme to promote CPR awareness and improve accessibility of defibrillators in the community.

There are more than 8,500 registered public access defibrillators in communities throughout Wales, which can help the public play a vital role in improving the chances of survival for people who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

The Welsh Government has now provided £500,000 to the Welsh Ambulance Service for an additional 500 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in community locations to support more lives to be saved.

#999 #ambulance #cardiacPatients #WelshAmbulanceServiceTrust #WelshGovernment

Electric and hybrid ambulances could be responding to 999 calls soon

The Welsh Government say that more than 140 new ambulances and vehicles will be part of the first phase of a five-year Welsh Ambulance Services fleet strategy, which will see older vehicles replaced with new ambulances and vehicles fitted with the latest technology, materials, and products.

The wider strategy, which runs to 2030, includes prioritising electric and hybrid vehicles, where viable, to reduce carbon emissions and covers all vehicles operated by the Welsh Ambulance Service.

This includes the Non-emergency Patient Transport Service, which helps people attend hospital appointments and transfers patients between hospitals.

The Welsh Government says its investment of 142 new ambulances and vehicles comes as the Welsh Ambulance Service is poised to introduce improvements to the way it responds to the most serious 999 emergency calls.

The changes, which come into force in July, are designed to save more lives and improve people’s outcomes following a cardiac arrest, a serious illness, incident, or accident.

Health Secretary, Jeremy Miles said: “This investment shows our commitment to ensuring the Welsh Ambulance Service has the modern, reliable fleet it needs to deliver exceptional care for people across Wales.

“The ambulance service plays a critical role not just in emergency response, but also supporting patient flow through the wider healthcare system.

“By replacing 142 vehicles, we’re improving the resilience of our emergency response capabilities and supporting our environmental goals.”

Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Resources at the Welsh Ambulance Service, Chris Turley said: “We’re very grateful to the Welsh Government for the continual investment, which enables us to operate a modern, efficient and fit-for-purpose fleet.

“Embracing the latest technologies and innovations whilst working in partnership with staff and trade union partners is essential to provide the best possible experience for patients, as well as an ergonomically-friendly working environment for staff, who spend the majority of their working day aboard these vehicles.

“As the national ambulance service for Wales, spread over an area of 8,000 square miles, improving air quality is something we’re very committed to, so these cleaner and greener vehicles reinforce our commitment to reduce our environmental footprint in alignment with the Welsh Government’s net zero strategic plan.”

#ambulance #ElectricVehicles #EV #HybridVehicles #WelshAmbulanceServiceTrust #WelshGovernent

“It’s an utter disgrace” says NHS union as more than 100 Welsh Ambulance staff sexually assaulted on duty in the last five years

The Welsh Ambulance Service has seen a concerning rise in the number of staff and paramedics who have been sexually assaulted while on duty in the last five years.

New figures obtained by Sexual Abuse Compensation Advice (SACA) through Freedom of Information request reveals that between 2020 and 2024, more than 100 Welsh Ambulance Service staff were subjected to various forms of sexual assaults while at work, with incidents escalating over the last five years. 

Since 2020, there has been 103 instances of sexual acts, behaviours conducted towards staff by patients or members of the public including, sexual harrassment, sexual misconduct, sexual assault and rape.  

National Officer for GMB, the union for NHS Works, Rachel Harrison told SACA: “It’s an utter disgrace our ambulance workers suffer these attacks as they try to save lives.

“This is a national problem and it is getting worse.”

Between 2020-2024: 

• 2020 saw 17 sexual assaults on staff. Of those, 2 were patient to staff indecent exposure, 14 were sexual harassment/assault – patient to staff and 1 was sexual harassment/assault by a relative/escorty/member of the public to staff.
• 2021 saw 16 assaults in total. Of those, 2 were indecent exposure and 14 were sexual harassment/assault. 
• 2022 recorded 16 assaults.
• 2023 figures rose to 32 sexual assaults by patients or members of the public.
• 2024 saw 22 sexual assaults including, indecent exposure, sexually inappropriate behaviour, sexual assault and verbal assault (gender/sexual orientation).

The revelations come amid growing national concerns over violence and abuse against healthcare workers, with calls for stronger protections and zero-tolerance policies across all NHS services.

More than 65,000 NHS staff reported sexual assaults and harassment for patients, their relatives and other members of the public in 2024 in the health service’s annual survey. 

For the second-year-running, the NHS staff survey for England asked workers if they had been the target of unwanted sexual behaviour, which includes inappropriate or offensive sexualised comments, touching and assault. 

Of the 743,397 NHS staff who responded, a total of 65,568 reported sexual assaults and harassment by the public and other staff last year.

Union officer, Ms Harrison added: “GMB members were instrumental in changing the law, to make attacks on ambulance workers an aggravating factor when it comes to sentencing. 

“But it’s not enough – we need a zero tolerance approach from the police, trusts, Ministers and the public.”

Sexual Abuse Compensation Advice also obtained the latest data from NHS Resolution, the legal arm of the NHS, regarding the number of legal claims that have been lodged against UK Ambulance Trusts as a result of assaults (of all types) on staff. 

Since 2019, there have been 74 legal claims and incidents of ambulance staff assaults reported to the NHS legal body. Of those, 36 related to orthopaedic injuries, 13 pertained to facial injuries and 9 were for head injuries. 

A further 8 claims and incidents were logged relating to psychiatric damage and eight more for injuries to internal organs.

In the last five years, UK Ambulance Trusts have settled 15 such claims with compensation payouts amounting to £589,533. 

A further £100,498 was paid for NHS legal costs as well as £267,518 for the claimant’s legal costs – giving a grand total of £957,549.

Figures from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) – which is a government-backed organisation that can offer compensation to victims of sexual abuse, shows that just 13,313 applications were received in the last year from alleged victims of sexual assault or abuse. 

CICA Specialist at SACA, Ellie Lamey said: “The number of sexual assault/abuse victims who have applied for CIC is staggeringly low compared to the number of offences being reported.

“It is so important that victims know there is support available for them and not to be deterred or fearful of rejection.

“Victims should be aware that they can report historical periods of abuse/assaults to the police, regardless of the amount of time that has passed. 

“Victims can avoid rejections by ensuring they fully cooperate with the police in bringing the assailant to justice as well as seeking appropriate medical attention regarding any physical or psychological injuries sustained from the assault they are a victim of.

“CICA data from 2020-2022 shows that 18 per cent of applications are submitted outside of the two-year time limit, and of these 61 per cent went on to receive an award. 

“With relevant evidence, we can provide exceptional circumstances that have contributed to the delay in a victim submitting an application.”

#GMB #sexualAssault #WelshAmbulanceServiceTrust