The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service is seeking feedback from paramedics on the use of body-worn videos in a bid to tackle increased assaults on staff.
The move follows an increasing level of abuse against staff during the pandemic.
NIAS Chief Executive Michael Bloomfield told Stormont's Health Committee last month that the service is exploring the use of body-worn videos with a planned consultation on the issue.
Mr Bloomfield also said the NIAS is “looking at pilots around stab vests” amid a surge in abuse directed at paramedics.
As well as paramedics being verbally and physically assaulted, the Stormont Committee was also told of the “verbal abuse” 999 control room staff face.
The abuse is so bad that a clinical psychologist is helping staff cope.
Mr Bloomfield said he “shocked” that many paramedics say it is “just part of the job”, with him saying “it should not be”.
During an average 12 hour shift now, crews are spending around 20% of their time waiting to get patients admitted to under-pressure EDs.
Before the pandemic, a crew would respond to six to eight callouts whereas now many crews are only managing one or two.
This is all leading to increased response times, particularly with serious, but not life threatening, Category 2 and 3 calls.
The situation is “taking its toll on staff”, who rarely get breaks, and is “unsustainable”, Mr Bloomfield said.
Sickness levels and Covid related absences have also meant staffing levels are down 20% compared to around 8% off sick pre-pandemic.
Alliance South Belfast MLA Paula Bradshaw, who sits on the Health Committee, told Belfast Live: "Ambulance workers and other first responders have been among the true heroes of this pandemic, offering support and assistance often when no one else could and maintaining a remarkable degree of professionalism and courage throughout.
"The very notion that we would have reached the stage where attacks on them are so frequent that additional security steps are needed is sickening, given the outstanding work they have done.
"Nevertheless, we must ensure we take every step we can to ensure the safety of ambulance crews and other first responders as they continue to do the vital front-line work that they do."
Last June ambulance workers in England were given body-worn cameras, after assaults against them went up by almost a third in five years.
Body cameras are not available for paramedics in Wales but the potential to bring them in was being explored before the pandemic.
The Scottish Ambulance Service is also exploring the use of body cams among its staff.
As part of the consultation on the principle of introducing Body Worn Video (BWV) for the purposes of violence prevention and reduction against staff, the NIAS is holding two virtual public meetings on Wednesday 26th January from 6.30–8pm and on Wednesday 9th February from 12 noon–2pm and those wishing to attend should email consultation@nias.hscni.net before Friday 21st January.
Registration to attend the virtual meetings is required, as joining details will need to be sent.
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