At least 55 members of ambulance staff are abused or attacked every day in the UK, according to leaders from the sector.
Incidents include kicking, head-butting, spitting, verbal abuse, sexual assault and serious attacks involving weapons, according to the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE).
It said ambulance services are on course to report the highest ever rate of violent, aggressive and abusive incidents against staff.
There were 11,817 reported incidents of violence, aggression and abuse against ambulance staff in the six months to September 2024, according to data from the organisation.
The figure accounts for 61% of the 19,633 reported for 2023/24 overall, the AACE claims.
The organisation said at the current rate it expects incidents to top 20,000 for the first time across the 14 ambulance services.
Anna Parry, managing director of AACE, said: “These new figures highlight the upsetting fact that ambulance employees face the very real possibility of being subject to violence or abuse each time they start a shift.
“This can have a significant and lasting impact on wellbeing and sometimes even lead to people leaving the ambulance service.”
The association also estimates more than 5,000 incidents will be reported over the winter months of December, January and February, with more than 2,000 expected from December 2024 alone.
It said alcohol plays a major part in assaults against ambulance staff, followed by drugs and people in mental health crisis.
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Ambulance services have introduced several measures to try to deter abusive or violent behaviour, including piloting body cameras for staff and establishing violence prevention teams within each NHS ambulance service.
The AACE is also campaigning to raise awareness of the issue.
Ms Parry added: “Our ongoing #WorkWithoutFear campaign is shining a light on this alarming issue and raising awareness of the negative impact of this behaviour on our people, while a significant amount of work is ongoing within ambulance services to help better protect our workforce.”
Saffron Cordery, interim chief executive of NHS Providers, said: “Violence against any member of NHS staff is completely unacceptable.
“Healthcare staff provide a vital service, ensuring patients receive the care they need as quickly as possible, often in high-pressure and challenging situations.
“This is particularly true for ambulance staff. There is absolutely no excuse for the public to direct violence, aggression or abuse against NHS staff who are there to help them.”
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A government spokesperson said: “Violence of any kind is unacceptable, and NHS staff should be able to care for patients without fear of assault.
“Those who assault emergency workers should face the full force of the law and can face up to two years’ imprisonment.”
