A national campaign to raise awareness of violence against NHS staff is to be taken up by Airedale's Community Health Council (CHC).

The decision to write to the police and the Royal College of Nursing was made by members at a meeting of the CHC's acute services sub-committee last week.

CHC member Peter Putwain reported that in January last year there were ten 'violent incidents' at Airedale Hospital. He added: "At this time of year the hospital is going to get a lot of problems relating to drink and drug incidents. People should be made aware that anyone involved in violence will be arrested. It's a problem that is escalating and we must tackle it in some shape or form."

Incidents of violence discussed had all occurred in the hospital's accident and emergency department (A&E). Members of the CHC - a watchdog organisation for patients - were told that three security guards had been employed because many of the attacks had tended to happen between 11pm and 3am.

Chairman Lexa Robinson said: "It's time people were told that any kind of violence in A&E is not acceptable. These drink and drug incidents are taking time away from other patients and I think it's dreadful."

Melvin Birks, the hospital's service manager of acute services, informed members that verbal-abuse offenders were not being dealt with particularly severely because there has to be a physical sign of violence on victims. But he said trained staff are entitled to restrain any offender.

The national campaign is being run by the Royal College of Nursing.

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