Photo: ST JOHN NZ
An ambulance worker could be killed while attending a mental health call-out if stab-proof vests aren't made available to all staff, their union is warning.
New Zealand ambulance association secretary Mark Quinn told Morning Report they want a rollout of stab-proof vests for all workers as the risk to them will increase dramatically.
In August, Police unveiled a plan to start pulling back it's attendance at mental health call-outs.
The new policy was due to starting rolling out from 1 November.
The first phase will include quicker handovers at Emergency Departments and reduced presence at mental health facilities.
"It's already happening," Quinn said.
Local police managers had been "quietly withdrawing" and and ambulance officers didn't feel ready, he said.
"Nobody's answered the question 'who is filling the gap?'," Quinn said.
"I believe it's been down played, the true effects of the police departing from their roles and responsibilities that they've been doing."
He said there was always the potential that someone could be killed.
Some stab-proof vests were available but were only worn in high-risk situations and weren't always handy, Quinn said.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell told Morning Report the move had been well signalled and plenty of conversations were being had.
He said Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and health officials were working on a "big piece of work" to "stand up a workforce" who would replace police in these instances.
"The reality of it is that everyone is motivated by the same thing and that is making sure that everyone in distress... is getting the right response."
That was a health response, not the police, Mitchell said.
Mitchell acknowledged ambulance officers, like all other first responders, were facing more abuse and threats than previously.
"I have that fear every day myself," he said of the risk someone could be killed doing their job.
Labour's mental health spokesperson Ingrid Leary said ambulance staff would be left in a dangerous position when police began pulling back from some mental crisis callouts.
She wanted further detail on how the new Mental Health Bill - which passed its first reading this week - would work with the 1961 Crimes Act.
The law currently left first responders caught between being vulnerable to prosecution and grossly unsafe in crisis situations, she said.
Leary said it was an urgent issue, given the changes also being made to the 111 call system.
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