Nurses 'suffering frequent attacks'

Only France has higher rates of violence, the study found, from a list of 10 European countries including Belgium, Italy and Poland.

The research, published in the journal Occupational Medicine, found that 29% of UK nurses had suffered frequent violent incidents at the hands of patients or their relatives. In France, the figure was 39% and 28% in Germany.

The researchers, from France, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy, found that violence had wide-reaching effects including nurses leaving the profession, problems with recruitment, increased amounts of sick leave and "burnout".

The study was based on a survey of 39,894 nurses. The authors said: "Staff should be protected by a sound trust policy and incidents should be carefully monitored.

"Workplace violence is one of the most complex and dangerous occupational hazards facing nurses.

"As its effects are varied, including increased sick leave, security costs, litigation, workers' compensation, and recruitment and retention issues, it is important to address both its psychological and organisational costs."

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."

One psychiatric nurse told how he was now back at work after receiving a severe shoulder injury. A previous attack left him with a fractured jaw.

He said: "I felt it was very difficult to get the support I needed after I was attacked. There can be a real stigma from colleagues - particularly if you need to access psychiatric help."