A PARAMEDIC was reportedly stabbed in the stomach with a screwdriver by a patient he was rushing to hospital.
The emergency services worker sustained serious injuries and was taken to A&E instead of the patient when the ambulance arrived at the hospital today.
Minutes earlier, the victim and his crewmate had picked up the patient from a phone box following a 999 call reporting that the man was suffering from symptoms of a stroke.
The man was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm when he arrived at hospital - with the paramedic rather than the patient then being transferred inside for emergency treatment.
The paramedic - who was working for a private provider ambulance company on contract to the NHS - was stabbed in the abdomen after being sent on an emergency call to deal with a suspected stroke victim.
His injuries were said to be serious but were not believed to be life-threatening. But the attack has been condemned by the emergency services.
The paramedic, who is in his 30s and was working on behalf of the South Central Ambulance Service, was attacked while taking the patient to Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury, Bucks.
Mark Ainsworth, director of operations at South Central Ambulance Service said: "It is completely unacceptable that a dedicated healthcare professional has been attacked in this way and my thoughts, along with everyone's at SCAS, are with the crew member at this time.
"Thanks to the quick response to this incident from the second crew member on the ambulance involved, team members at SCAS who raced to the scene and staff at Stoke Mandeville Hospital who came to his aid, along with Thames Valley Police, a more serious outcome was avoided and the perpetrator was arrested at the scene.
"SCAS and Jigsaw Medical are now working closely with Thames Valley Police to ensure that the person responsible is prosecuted."
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