I've listened to the podcast. and my first thought is that I don't really understand what the segment was aimed at? They inform the listener that there is such a flagging list, the implications, and imply that you may be on it becuase of a former occupant of your address? they also point out that you can respond to the trust and have the result removed. Donal does not seem so concerned that ambulance crews are being attacked, he doesn't mention the lack of equipment you've discussed above. Thankfully some of his callers at least mention the stab vests, and onetext suggests that abusive people should not get treatment at all. The angle of the show seems slightly outraged that these people may not be treated when they call 999, and concerned that there's no centralised system for balanced recording and monitoring of addresses (which would naturally involve central staffing, cost, much more paperwork, and doubtless a new governemnt database which they'll leave on a train) I have to side wholeheartedly with the ambulance crews here. Bottom line they should not put themselves at risk if they know from experience that persons at an address may be abusive. As you point out Tom, the crews can use their own judgement to go in without backup in some siutations. The radio show suggests that there may be a problem where a former occupant of an address was abusive, and a new patient having recently moved in is denied an ambulance. I would guess the chances of this are miniscule, and many of these addresses will likely be council accomodation, occupied by the same family for years.