UNION bosses are demanding a review of security at Burnley General Hospital's casualty department to protect health staff and patients.

The call comes after a casualty nurse was allegedly threatened by a man with a claw hammer.

Tim Ellis, regional officer for public sector workers union Unison, has written to hospital bosses asking to see a risk assessment and wanting to know what security measures are being put in place following the incident.

Police were called at 10.25pm on October 19 after staff reported a patient behaving in a threatening manner.

A man was alleged to have verbally abused a triage nurse while carrying a claw hammer and a kitchen knife.

Mr Ellis said: "There are, unfortunately, too many attacks on NHS staff.

"Unison will be writing to Burnley General Hospital to ask to see a risk assessment of the alleged incident and to ask what measures are put in place to prevent any attacks on staff.

"That could involve more security staff, panic alarm buttons and looking again at access away from the scene."

A police spokesman confirmed that police were called out by staff who said a man was becoming aggressive in accident and emergency.

The incident comes months after another man kicked out at a security

guard and swung at a window in the casualty department while suffering a psychotic episode.

In the last quarter, up to the end of August this year, there were 15 incidents of violence or aggression against staff in the A&E department at Burnley General, compared to 10 in each of the two previous quarters. A spokeswoman for Burnley General said a risk assessment had been undertaken and the union was within its rights to see it. She added: "A man was identified as a high-risk patient when he presented to accident and emergency. The triage nurse was informed and escorted by a security guard. Police were already in the department for another reason and normal procedures were followed."

Normal security measures include CCTV, a security guard, panic alarms and keypad access to reception. Escape routes are designated if required and reception staff are kept aware of high risk patients who are likely to present at accident and emergency.

Staff are regularly updated with violence and aggression courses and if there is such an event they are given back-up afterwards.

A 49-year-old man has been charged with affray and having an offensive weapon in public on October 19. He was remanded on unconditional bail to appear before Burnley magistrates Court on November 11.