Paramedics in England are to be fitted with body cameras in a bid to prevent thousands of attacks on frontline staff each year, officials have announced.

Even as NHS workers risked their lives to help the country at its time of need during the coronavirus pandemic, they were still being attacked when attending emergency call-outs.

Data from the NHS in England showed that 3,569 ambulance staff reported being assaulted in 2020/21 – a 32% rise from five years previously.

It is hoped that staff will feel safer wearing the equipment, which they can turn on with the press of a button.

Paramedics and other frontline ambulance staff in London and the North East have been trialling the use of the cameras.

After the successful pilot, the NHS is rolling out body cams to frontline ambulance staff across the country in a bid to curb violence against staff.

Medics will wear the cameras and be able to press a button to start recording if patients or the public became aggressive or abusive, with filming made available to police where needed.

The trials also showed that the cameras can assist in de-escalating situations where staff are faced with someone being aggressive towards them, the NHS said.

Emergency Ambulance Crew member Gary Watson, who works for London Ambulance Service in Croydon, was violently assaulted by a drunk patient in 2018 while on duty.

Mr Watson suffered a torn ligament and serious injuries to his face, throat and neck in the attack.

Two other medics were also injured and a fourth badly shaken. A man was convicted, receiving a suspended sentence.

Mr Watson, who was part of the trial assessing the use of the body cams, said: “These cameras are needed, and wearing one makes me feel safer. They act as a deterrent and will also help provide evidence if there is an attack.

“We go to work to help people, not to be assaulted. It’s disgusting that a minority think it’s OK to behave in such a violent way.”

Prerana Issar, chief people officer for the NHS in England, said: “Every member of our dedicated and hardworking NHS staff has the fundamental right to be safe at work and it is our priority to eliminate violence and abuse, which we will not tolerate.

“As well as reducing the number of incidents towards our staff, these cameras are a vital step towards ensuring our people feel safe too.

“The fact that we are rolling them out to all 10 ambulance trusts three years ahead of schedule is testament to our commitment to tackling this problem and is nothing less than our staff deserve.”

Darren Green, clinical service manager at North East Ambulance Service, said: “Staff safety is one of our highest priorities; if we are unable to protect our staff, we are unable to provide a service that’s fit for purpose for the public we serve.

“The availability of body-worn cameras for our staff is something that we have championed for a long time and so we are delighted to have led the trial to help implement them nationally.

“Nobody comes to work to be abused, but especially not by the people they have come to help. Sadly, these cameras are needed now more than ever.”

Commenting on the announcement, Unison’s deputy head of health, Helga Pile, said: “Ambulance staff who’re looking after sick and vulnerable patients should never have to face violence and abuse while doing their jobs. Body cameras can help to ensure their safety and bring attackers to justice.”

The move follows an initiative launched earlier this year which tasked every NHS trust in the country to publish a plan to tackle violence towards staff.

The use of body cameras by ambulance crews in Northern Ireland is currently under consideration.

A spokesman for the NI Ambulance Service said work toward implementation of the technology was ongoing.

Body cameras are not available for paramedics in Wales but the potential to bring them was being explored before the pandemic.

The Welsh Ambulance Service said it was looking to secure investment for the technology and would revisit a previously drawn-up business case for them.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Ambulance Service said: “We’ll be further exploring the use of body cams with our staff, staffing representatives and patient groups.”