<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An exhausted </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/victoria" rel="" target="" title="Victorian"><span>Victorian</span></a><span> ambulance fleet is pleading for an end to violence against frontline workers after a pregnant </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/paramedics" rel="" target="" title="paramedic"><span>paramedic</span></a><span> was punched in the face and stomach by a patient.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Paramedics were waiting to offload a female patient, who they had revived after she suffered a drug overdose, at The Austin Hospital in Melbourne's north on Monday when the woman lashed out and attacked the Ambulance Victoria employee.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sally was kicked in the head and stomach despite telling the patient-turned-attacker she was 12 weeks pregnant.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/outback-wrangler-star-matt-wright-home-following-prison-release-birth-of-son-sterling/2c7de685-df8d-40d4-962b-e81732eb5d08" target="_blank"><strong><span>Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright released from prison, misses birth of baby boy</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sally continued to treat the woman for another 40 minutes until another crew could take over, because there were no hospital beds available.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The paramedic and her unborn child are okay but she is now too fearful to get back on the road.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Her desire had been to continue working for many more months on-road, but she's had to make the decision for her own health and the health of her unborn child to come off-road because we just can't guarantee her safety," Victorian Ambulance Union secretary Danny Hill said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/frontline-responders-pregnant-paramedic-punched-ambulance-victoria/acb7bc6f-dcdd-4f1a-bc6c-2e6ca974951d" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The attack came weeks after another unprovoked attack on Ambulance Victoria staff, where a paramedic was stabbed in the neck and face by a man while waiting for a coffee. That alleged attacker has been charged with attempted murder.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is not the only assault that's happened since our colleague Sam was stabbed in the face and neck just under two weeks ago," Ambulance Victoria chief executive Jordan Emery said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"In fact, over the last week one of my paramedics has been bitten, another one has been shoved, another paramedic has had scissors pulled on them.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"What it reflects is an ongoing and appalling pattern of violence towards paramedics and first responders who go about providing care to Victorians in their time of need each and every day."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/british-expat-why-she-moved-back-to-australia-after-returning-to-england/75109d3d-f00d-416b-bbd3-fdae6d0ca001" target="_blank"><strong><span>British expat Annie moved back to England after living in Australia. She only lasted six months</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The sickening attacks have prompted Ambulance Victoria to support their staff in refusing care when patients become violent.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If my people are not safe, we will withdraw care. It is the only safe option for my people," Emery said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If their lives are in danger we cannot help you or your loved ones and we plead for Victorians to take action now and stop this appalling pattern of violence towards our people."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The ambulance union is encouraging staff to report incidents to police.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I'm glad that Ambulance Victoria has backed our call that anytime a paramedic fears for their safety they're able to leave the scene," Hill said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"But that's just a horrible decision to have to make.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Nobody wants to be in that situation where they have to choose between their own safety and treating their patient, but sadly that's where we're at.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If you threaten our members, you are threatening the care your loved one receives."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Victorian Emergency Services Minister Harriet Shing called attacks on frontline workers "disgraceful".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We're continuing to work alongside the Ambulance Workers' Union and I'm continuing to work alongside Ambulance Victoria to identify what we can do to further safeguard the safety of our paramedics," Shing said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We've made changes to the law to ensure that emergency services are able to access safer systems of work and that there are harsher penalties that apply to anyone that causes harm to an emergency service worker."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>