HEALTHCARE workers across Worcestershire were assaulted 376 times between April 2013 and March this year.

NHS figures show 120 assaults were committed against people working at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Kidderminster Hospital or Redditch’s Alexandra Hospital in the 12-month period, a rate of 20 attacks per 1,000 staff.

Meanwhile 256 such assaults were committed on staff working at Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, which runs mental health and community care services in the county, a rate of 62 per 1,000 employees.

All but one of the assaults committed on health and care trust staff are labelled as ‘involving medical factors’, meaning the attacker was a mentally ill patient who was not aware of what they were doing.

Fifty-eight of the attacks committed on acute trust staff, slightly less than half, fell into this category.

Neither figures have increased or decreased dramatically in recent years.

The trust’s chief executive Penny Venables said the organisation “will not tolerate” assaults against its staff, whether physical or non-physical.

“We encourage staff to report assaults, which are then followed up by an investigation,” she said.

“However it is often found that the assault was unintentional as the offender lacked the capacity to understand their actions.

“Where appropriate, we encourage staff to seek legal sanctions against offenders, although many choose not to do so.

“In the event of a serious assault the trust would consider taking direct action against the offender.”

She added all staff are trained to deal with violence and aggression and victims are offered counselling where necessary.

“The majority of the physical assaults made against our staff over the last year were made up of scratches, punches and kicks,” she said.

“NHS staff work hard to provide patients with the best possible service and we will support them and do our best to protect them from those who are violent and aggressive.”

Deputy adult mental health and learning disability service delivery unit lead with Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust Darren Levett said: "(The trust) believes all its staff have the right to work in a safe environment".

"We do not tolerate assaults on our staff and where it is appropriate we work closely with police colleagues to pursue prosecution of patients, visitors or members of the public who assault or threaten anyone working for us or in our care," he said.

Across the entire country 68,683 assaults were committed against NHS staff in the 12-month period, an increase of 8.7 per cent on the previous year.