NHS staff need more protection, say MPs

MPS today called for new laws to protect NHS staff from attacks by patients.

Politicians from all parties called for urgent measures to curb the spiralling number of assaults on doctors and nurses.

More than 15,000 front line NHS workers were attacked by patients and their relatives in London last year.

About 30 MPs have signed a Commons motion calling on the Government to make assault of emergency workers and medical staff undertaking their duties a summary offence.

They argue that doctors and nurses deserve the same protection as the police. It has been a summary offence to attack a police officer since 1996.

Attacking an emergency worker became a summary offence in Scotland this month following a spate of vicious assaults on paramedics and firefighters by youths.

The Royal College of Nursing welcomed the campaign. Sheela Brewar, the organisation's Senior Employment Adviser, said: "All those who assault nurses should be adequately dealt with. Many assaults against nurses never result in action by the police."