HOSPITAL managers alarmed by almost daily attacks on their staff have launched a new zero tolerance crackdown.

Intimidation and aggression are constant problems for health workers at York District Hospital, who face everything from verbal abuse to vicious attacks.

So far this year 30 incidents of violence or aggression have been reported, but managers say unreported incidents occur most days of the week.

In one of the most serious incidents a man wrecked a treatment room and threatened a worker in the accident and emergency (A&E) department with a shard of glass.

Now visitors to the hospital, clinics and health centres run by York Health Services NHS Trust are confronted by posters warning that physical or verbal abuse could result in the police being called and legal action.

Directorate manager Dave Ashton said: "Incidents of violence and aggression are a constant issue for staff and patients. Not a day goes by when there isn't some sort of confrontation, so we are letting people know that there is a limit to what will be tolerated, and if necessary action will be taken."

Mr Ashton said that while most incidents involved staff being sworn at and verbally abused, others were more serious.

"Last year a treatment room was smashed up by a patient which resulted in about £2,500 worth of damage, and he went on to threaten a member of staff with a shard of glass," he said.

He said people receiving treatment at the hospital sometimes had reason to be upset, but problems could be resolved without resorting to violence.

Staff will try not to be confrontational when dealing with abusive patients, but if behaviour becomes unacceptable the trust may write to them to highlight the problem or contact the police.

Mr Ashton said the hospital's existing security staff would respond to incidents, but were not a substitute for the police.

Unison branch secretary Edna Mulhearn said it wanted prosecutions for all assaults on nurses, except where the behaviour was caused by a medical condition.