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Sydney bar ambo attack 'absolute disgrace'

The boss and the union of NSW paramedics have condemned an attack on ambulance officers as they treated an unconscious woman at a Sydney bar.

ambulance
The paramedics union says ambulance officers may need to start wearing body cameras for protection. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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The boss of NSW paramedics has slammed as an "absolute disgrace" an attack on ambulance officers who were treating an unconscious woman at a Sydney bar.

One paramedic was allegedly pushed and others threatened in the early hours of Sunday morning before police were called in to escort the crew and patient from the King Street Wharf bar to a waiting ambulance.

Riot squad officers assisted at the scene and St Vincent's Hospital after a group of people with the 22-year-old woman became "agitated and aggressive", police said in a statement.

NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan said the attack on the officers "performing life-saving treatment" was the 139th on paramedics this year.

That's a rate of four a week.

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"Any assault on paramedics is an absolute disgrace," Mr Morgan told AAP in a statement.

"Paramedics are precious members of the community only trying to assist and save lives and to assault them is not on."

The union says paramedics may need to start wearing body cameras to deter "idiots" from attacking them while they're working.

It believes people would be less likely to attack paramedics if they knew it would be filmed.

"While there have been more paramedics employed in recent times you can't prevent cowardice from drunk idiots," Health Services Union NSW secretary Gerard Hayes told AAP in a statement.

The woman remains in a critical but stable condition at St Vincent's Hospital.

It's unclear why she was unwell, police say.

Two men - including a camera operator - are expected to face court over the incident.

A 27-year-old faces four charges including hindering an ambulance officer by act of violence and drug supply.

He was granted bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on September 19.

The 42-year-old cameraman is due at the same court on October 3 to face a charge of hindering police.


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