Years ago when I was a Senior Staff Nurse I broke up a fight between to son's of one of my patients. I didn't stop to think they were terrifying my old and frail patients, they were knocking seven shades out of each other. I got pushed back roughly against a door frame, just a few bruises, but it had the desired effect and the more aggressive of the two ran off the ward leaving the other a gibbering wreck. I got torn off a strip the next day by the nurse manager. I suppose she was right; what use was I to my patients if I was hurt, that would have been particularly true if I had been on the ward on my own;not some thing that happens very often in a hospital. I really feel for the paramedic involved in this situation it must have been so difficult for her, but if she didn't know if the assailant was still on the scene she did the right thing. Well done Tom for putting the case.