one Trans paramedic says patients refuse to help and some even spit on her just because ‘she is who she is’.
Steph Meech, 53, who works for England’s South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb), is Paramedic 20 years ago.
She lives in Polegate, East Sussex and is one of the first openly transgender paramedics in the European country. But since coming out as a trans woman, Steph says she gets it verbal and physical abuse of patients.
The Englishwoman said the majority usually accept her care but the negative reaction from the minority “it really hurts”.
“I’ve had times where I would treat people and get spat on just for being who I am.”Steph told the BBC. “When I get to the (patient’s) door, I usually ask, ‘What are you?’ You really are out of order I’m a paramedic first and I’m here to help.She added.
Steph Meech takes part in a campaign against prejudice Photo: Reproduction/Twitter(@MeechSteph1)
Steph completed 20 years as a paramedic in March Photo: Reproduction/Twitter(@MeechSteph1)
Photo by Steph Meech: Playback/Twitter(@MeechSteph1)
Secamb, which spans Kent, Sussex and Surrey, has joined a national campaign to combat prejudice, increased aggression and violence against emergency services workers. Steph became one of the local faces of the campaign.
“This is me and I had to hide it for so long”vented.
Photo by Steph Meech: Playback/Twitter(@MeechSteph1)
In southeast England, reports of violence and assaults against first responders rose from 548 in 2019 to 921 in 2021.