A PARAMEDIC was assaulted by a patient then had to restrain him in the back of an ambulance outside Cairns Base Hospital for two-and-a-half hours until a bed became free.

It was the third violent attack on ambulance officers in Cairns in a week, although the other two happened in patients' homes.

In the latest assault, the ambulance crew had picked up the man from an inner-city nightclub, where he is understood to have been arrested for alcohol-related violence, and taken him to the hospital early on Thursday morning.

The patient allegedly attacked the paramedic in the back of the ambulance as it was parked outside the Emergency Department.

The injured paramedic, who suffered soreness after being kicked in the back, said he was "surprised" the patient continued to be left in his and another officer's care for so long after the attack.

"I'm used to sitting out there waiting, time is not an issue, it's just the safety aspect of having that sort of patient outside ED for that length of time," said the officer, who asked not to be named.

"We had to hold him down for the entire period and he continued to verbally abuse us and try to punch us and thrash around."

The Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union local delegate Bob Lackey said while it was not known if the patient had struck the officer out of frustration at being confined to the ambulance, it can’t have helped.

"If they weren't ramped, he would be inside, in proper care, in a protected room where he's not going to harm people," Mr Lackey said.

"It's bad enough to leave sick people out there let alone someone who's already assaulted someone."

He said ambos were routinely waiting six to eight hours at a time to unload patients, and 12 to 14 hours "or longer" during busy periods.

A Queensland Health spokesman said hospital security staff were told of the attack and on hand when the patient arrived and an ED doctor saw him soon after.

He said the hospital was reviewing its patient restraint policy because of a rise in aggressive and violent behaviour in ED.

Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said amendments to toughen up the penalties against people who assaulted emergency personnel were before State Parliament.

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