Health union members have called for new laws to protect health workers from assault.

Unison, the UK's largest health union, has said staff are threatened with knives and guns and punched and spat on duty.

Now the union has called for commitment at every level to deal with attacks on NHS workers, including nurses and paramedics.

Simon Newell, Unison regional officer for Swindon and Wiltshire, said: "This comes at the time of year when acts of violence are at their peak.

"Our members including nurses and ambulance crews who deal with admissions often have to put up with people with drink and drug problems, so they are at risk all the time.

Union head Dave Prentis said: "The public knows that if they attack a police officer they are going to have the book thrown at them Unison would like to see the same tough treatment for anyone assaulting an NHS worker.

"Judges must impose sentences that reflect the crime."

From the beginning of January of this year to November 30 there were 189 incidents of verbal and physical aggression at Swindon's Great Western Hospital.

Of those, 45 resulted in injury.

Last year, there were 126 incidents reported, of which 13 resulted in injury.

But GWH spokesman Chris Birdsall said this year's figures included the hospital's accident and emergency department, whereas previous figures had not.

He also said that since the introduction of a zero-tolerance policy at the hospital, staff are more encouraged to report such incidents.

Mr Birdsall said: "Staff have a difficult job often in difficult circumstances so they don't need verbal and physical attacks to deal with as well.

"It used to be felt that some violence was part and parcel of the job, but we are telling staff it does not have to be, and we are encouraging them to report such incidents.

"We now have a zero-tolerance policy and a red card policy that bans violent people from particular areas of the hospital except Accident and Emergency.

"Staff have an extremely important job to do, and any new laws or rules to deal with violent patients or visitors would be welcomed."

In November then Health Secretary John Reid unveiled a range of proposals varying in severity to suit the crime.

One of the measures which could soon be in place at hospitals across the country is the setting-up of a special secure treatment room for problem patients. A security officer would be posted outside to tackle known thugs if trouble flares.

Anthony Osborne