Following the tragic death of an ambulance worker in Sweden, the Ambulance Union is urging for a system to flag dangerous addresses. Health Minister Elisabet Lann acknowledges the longstanding issue of threats and violence against ambulance staff and emphasizes the government's commitment to addressing it. Region Gävleborg is investigating the incident and considering implementing a flagging system to enhance safety.
Swedish Ambulance Union Calls for Safety Measures After Tragic Incident
Swedish Ambulance Union Calls for Safety Measures After Tragic Incident
The Ambulance Union wants to be able to "flag" addresses with risks of threats and violence.
- "The incident highlights a problem that has been raised for many years," says Health Minister Elisabet Lann (KD).
READ MORE: Ambulance staff murdered in Nordanstig
There are strong emotions among Sweden's ambulance employees after a female colleague was killed on duty.
She was treated by colleagues but succumbed to her injuries. They did everything they could – but it wasn't enough, writes one of them in a social media post:
"We are the first line, often far ahead of the police, and we are the ones who take the brunt first, without defensive equipment and help."
Henrik Johansson, union secretary at the Ambulance Union, is upset.
- "As ambulance staff, you are sent in completely blind. It's life-threatening. We must be clear: This didn't have to happen," he previously told Expressen.
The union has called for a flagging system. This would mean that ambulance staff receive information from the police's crime and suspect register and are not sent alone to addresses where potentially dangerous individuals are present.
Simply put: With a red flag, police accompany, without exception.
Health Minister: Working on the Issue
Sweden's newly appointed Health Minister Elisabet Lann (KD) believes the incident highlights a problem raised by staff and the union.
- "Threats and violence against ambulance staff is a problem that the government takes very seriously and must never be accepted," she says in a comment to Expressen.
Last year, the National Board of Health and Welfare and several authorities were tasked with returning with proposals on measures concerning threats and violence against ambulance staff, according to the Health Minister.
This was reported in the spring.
- "Since then, the government has been working on the proposals and measures that authorities and ambulance staff themselves have contributed to in the report. I will therefore return to this important issue," says Elisabet Lann.
Region Reviewing Flagging
Region Gävleborg has entered a state of emergency and will hold meetings with staff and employees on Sunday, writes TT.
- "We are meeting staff today and have crisis support in place at the ambulance stations where it is most needed," says the region's deputy health and medical director Susanna Björklund to the news agency.
The region will conduct an investigation of the incident to see if it is possible to flag addresses during emergency responses to places where threats and violence may occur.
- "This will be part of the investigation we are conducting now, and we will look over what can be done and whether it is possible to flag or not," says Susanna Björklund to TT.
A report will also be made to the Swedish Work Environment Authority.