A HEALTH worker is attacked everyday on average in East Lancashire, shock new figures reveal.

Some 391 health workers reported being assaulted over the past 12 months.

The number of attacks has increased by as much as 54 per cent year-on-year in some health trusts.

MPs said the stats were ‘outrageous and shocking’, while health bosses said workers should be able to carry out their jobs without fear of threats, violence or intimidation.

But health service unison Unison said more needed to be done by the authorities to tackle the ‘pitifully low' number of prosecutions against the thugs responsible.

Unison blamed an “all night drinking culture and lack of respect” for the attacks.

Stephanie Thomas, UNISON North West head of health, said: “The catalogue of assaults is shameful.

“Zero tolerance should mean zero tolerance. It is terrifying for both patients and staff to be embroiled in the sort of violence and aggression that goes on.

“UNISON would like to see the number of prosecutions doubled and tough penalties meted out to those found guilty of assault.

“Many of these assaults are preventable and the NHS needs to look at a raft of measures and new ways of working to protect staff.

“In some places that might mean more police and security staff working in A&E, in others staff training, more CCTV, alarms, better co-ordination between police and ambulance staff, flagging up dangerous areas or building safety features into hospitals and wards.”

A total of 55 people were attacked in East Lancashire hospitals this year, while 168 community health workers were assaulted.

Just three community workers at NHS Blackburn with Darwen were targeted - the remaining 165 were working for NHS East Lancashire.

NHS Blackburn saws incidents rise 48 per cent, NHS East Lancashire 54 per cent and East Lancashire Hospitals Trust 44 per cent.

Lancashire Care NHS Trust, which runs mental health hospitals, was the only body to see a drop, with the number of assaults on its staff falling 20 per cent.

The total of 391 does not include attacks on paramedics.

The North West Ambulance Service could not break down its figure from its regional total, including Manchester, Liverpool, Cumbria and Cheshire, of 234, up 40 per cent from 166.

Justice Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw called those who attack NHS staff “outrageous”, and said he hoped tough new measures under the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act would mean more prison sentences.

Under Mr Straw’s new legislation, which came into force in July, patients can be prosecuted under the new offence of “causing nuisance or disturbance on NHS premises”.

Even without a physical assault, offenders can receive a fine of up to £1,000.

He said: “I am glad the new offence is on the statute books, giving magistrates the full powers they need to deal with these crimes.

“There has been an increase in NHS assaults across the country, and I don’t know for certain but I hope that is down to more people reporting these incidents.

"We don’t want them to suffer in silence.”

Burnley MP Kitty Ussher said: “It is shocking that people who dedicate their lives to caring for people should be abused, particularly in the case of people who should be perfectly capable of restraining themselves.”

Bosses at East Lancashire’s hospitals, which now have 24-hour security staff on guard, vowed to take “every step necessary” to ensure staff safety.

Stephen Brookfield, a director at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “If a member of the public threatens violence to staff or patients, the person is removed immediately and the police are called.

"Any patient who behaves in an abusive or threatening manner will not be treated at our hospitals.

”Staff have the right to carry out their roles without fear of threats, intimidation or violence.”

Both the North West Ambulance Service and NHS East Lancashire, which provides non-hospital care across Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Rossendale and the Ribble Valley, said they had introduced new security systems and encouraged more staff to report violent incidents, meaning the increases reflected “a true picture” of the problem.

A spokesman for NHS Blackburn with Darwen said there were “robust” procedures in place to deal with violent patients.