TOUGHER action has been pledged nationally to deal with patients who verbally abuse NHS staff - but hospitals in East Dorset are already ahead of the game.

The NHS Security Management Service has produced a system of sanctions to be used against people using abusive or threatening behaviour, ranging from verbal warnings to legal action.

The service says non-physical assault can include swearing, spitting, shouting, derogatory or discriminatory comments and even death threats.

Elaine Beck, senior risk manager at Poole Hospital NHS Trust, said: "Zero tolerance was brought in two or three years ago. Any member of staff who is verbally or physically abused completes an adverse incident report and we follow up to find out if it is intentional.

"This year we have put up posters and signs saying that verbal and physical violence won't be tolerated. The other thing we do is that conflict management training is available to all frontline staff."

Mrs Beck added that incidents of abuse had gone down.

"If behaviour is totally unacceptable, people get a red card and are told that unless they have a life-threatening situation, they will not be treated within this NHS site. We have issued one red card and three yellow cards this year," she said.

A spokesman for the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Trust said it would seek criminal prosecutions where appropriate.

"In circumstances where criminal sanctions are not applied, the offender is issued with a warning letter which highlights that their behaviour has caused concern, alarm or distress to staff. If there is any repetition, the letter is used in the early stages of further sanctions such as acceptable behaviour contracts (ABCs) or ASBOs," he said.

"There are no second chances. We are sending out a very strong message that violence and aggression will not be tolerated by any staff anywhere and in any form," he said.

He added that the trust continued to play an active role in the fight against alcohol-related crime and disorder, working closely with Dorset Police, Bournemouth Borough Council and other partners in the Be Safe In Bournemouth initiative.

First published: November 25