The dangers of healthcare as one in three nurses are abused by patients

The figure for British nurses is the second highest among ten European countries, with only France having a higher rate.

Twenty-nine per cent of hospital nurses in Britain said they were assaulted or verbally abused by patients or their relatives at least once a month.

In France, the figure was 39 per cent. Germany was just behind Britain at 28 per cent. In Norway, where wards were found to be the safest, the figure was nine per cent.

Campaigners called on the Government to plough more money into ensuring the safety of Britain's healthcare staff.

Dr Gordon Parker, president of the Society of Occupational Medicine, said: "The staff are the greatest asset that the NHS has, and preventing physical and emotional injuries from violence and aggression is essential."

The researchers asked almost 40,000 nurses about their experience of violence in the workplace, including physical and verbal abuse, harassment and bullying.

The nurses worked in departments including outpatients, theatre, and geriatrics, intensive care, accident and emergency and psychiatric wards.

The other countries involved were Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Poland and Slovakia.

Across Europe, 22 per cent of nurses said they suffered violence or abuse at the hands of patients or their relatives at least once a month.

The study, published in the journal Occupational Medicine, found that young nurses and nursing aides were at higher risk of attack than their more experienced colleagues.

Male nurses were targeted more often than their female workmates. Those on psychiatric, geriatric and emergency wards were at higher risk of attack than other nurses.

The researchers, from a variety of European institutions, said violence at work raised the rate of sickness and burn-out, led to nurses leaving the profession and made it harder to recruit replacements.

Last year, Health Service figures showed that violence against its doctors and nurses had hit a record high - with one assault against staff every seven minutes.

Only one in 1,000 physical and verbal assaults on nurses and other NHS staff resulted in a prosecution.

Commenting on the latest research, Dr Peter Carter, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said: "This is yet another shocking report outlining the serious threat of violence faced by UK nurses on a daily basis.

"The RCN would like to see employers, the police and the justice system taking serious action against perpetrators."

Gail Adams, of Unison, said: "These statistics should make people in the UK ashamed.

"It is totally unacceptable for nurses to face rising levels of violence, when all they are trying to do is help and care for their patients.

"It's clear that despite efforts to cut violence in the NHS, more needs to be done to protect staff."

The NHS Security Management Service, which is responsible for the safety of healthcare workers, said all workers were being trained in the prevention and management of violence.

Richard Hampton, the organisation's head, said: "The number of physical assaults reported against NHS staff has fallen for the last two years, but there is still much work to do."

'I thought he was going to kill me'

The casualty nurse, who gave up a job in a building society to join the NHS, was stabbed in the arm while trying to treat the man for minor injuries.

As she broke free and tried to run away, he stabbed her again, this time in the back.

Mrs Hanson needed 29 stitches, including 18 in her back, and spent nearly two days as a patient in her own hospital.

Shortly after the late-night attack at Kings Mill Centre in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, she said: "I thought he was going to kill me.

"One of my colleagues stopped him from chasing me and one of the other girls helped out.

"Between them, they managed to hold him.'

Her husband, Richard, said: "As a police officer, I expect this type of situation. but in a job where you are caring for someone who you think has turned to you in their hour of need, it is the last thing you expect."