Ambulance workers in Stockholm have expanded a safety stop to protect personnel from violent patients, according to reports from the healthcare workers' union. The action, initiated by Vårdförbundet's chief safety representative Emil Skoglund, began on Thursday with a stop for a single patient and has now been extended to cover all patients with known violent histories.
According to reports, the safety stop prevents ambulance personnel from responding "unknowingly and without risk assessment" to patients who have previously threatened or been violent toward healthcare workers. The initial stop was reportedly implemented after ambulance staff faced repeated death threats from a specific patient who had threatened personnel with knives and other sharp weapons.
The safety stop prevents ambulance personnel from responding 'unknowingly and without risk assessment' to patients who have previously threatened or been violent toward healthcare workers.
Emil Skoglund stated that despite known risks, ambulance crews were being dispatched without awareness of the dangers. The expanded stop now applies to all patients where Region Stockholm, through incident reports, has knowledge that employees have been exposed to serious threats or physical violence.
The employer must respond to the safety stop by Friday at 12:34, according to union statements. If the employer does not accept the stop, the matter may need to be decided by the Swedish Work Environment Authority. The union is reportedly demanding that police accompany ambulance crews when responding to calls involving patients with known violent histories.
Despite known risks, ambulance crews were being dispatched without awareness of the dangers.