Man charged over paramedic assault

A man accused of hitting an ambulance officer in the face while being treated in Hobart has been charged with assault.

After calling an ambulance earlier this week for medical assistance, the man became verbally aggressive as he was being assessed and then hit a paramedic in the face, Ambulance chief executive Neil Kirby said on Wednesday.

"The behaviour and actions of this patient are reprehensible; there is simply no excuse for abusing or assaulting the very people there to help you," he said, adding that the ambulance crew retreated and returned later with police.