A PARAMEDIC was kicked in the groin by a Bucks patient who had overdosed on alcohol and Temazepam, according to ambulance records.

The incident was one of 14 alleged assaults on Buckinghamshire paramedics last year, prompting South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) to raise concerns over the safety of its staff.

A paramedic said the woman became “very violent” in Stoke Mandeville when she was refused admission to hospital following the overdose.

She was eventually taken to hospital under the Mental Health Capacity Act, but not before the paramedic received a “kick fully to the groin”.

In another incident, recorded in March this year, a paramedic said they were punched in the chest and kicked three times while trying to help a patient who was recovering from having a fit in High Wycombe.

In December, a paramedic was kicked after placing blankets underneath a patient who was repeatedly banging his head on the floor.

The number of reported assaults in Buckinghamshire rose from 10 in 2009/10 to 14 last year, an increase of 40 per cent.

Mark Ainsworth, an area director for SCAS, said the figures were “disappointing”, adding: “Our staff are in the community to help and assist those in need and should not become the target of verbal and physical abuse.”

The brief incident reports were obtained by the Free Press through the Freedom of Information Act. Statistics released separately by SCAS show none of the patients reported in Buckinghamshire received a penalty.

SCAS said it encourages staff to report assaults to the police and provides support to victims. All its new double crewed ambulances are fitted with four CCTV cameras and three 'panic strips' which lock the previous 30 seconds of recording and continue filming for two minutes.