All NHS nurses to be given panic alarms

Nurses are to be issued with panic alarms amid mounting concern over attacks by patients.

Health Secretary John Reid wants to give every one of them a device to alert police or security staff if they are threatened.

It follows figures showing that 116,000 nurses were physically assaulted last year - with verbal abuse even more rife. Most

attacks are on accident and emergency wards, where thousands of patients who are drunk or on drugs are treated every week.

Nurses are at more risk than doctors as they are usually the first to deal with drunk or angry patients. Dr Reid is expected to announce the plan today, saying: "I am determined to do everything within my power to stop NHS staff suffering violence and abuse."