A WOMAN doctor at Blackburn Royal Infirmary was punched in the face and dragged to the floor by a man she was about to treat.

And Blackburn magistrates warned Robert Turner that he could face a custodial sentence when he is sentenced for the unprovoked attack on Dr Sarah Haney.

Today health bosses warned anybody showing violent behaviour towards staff would be prosecuted.

Turner, 30, of Sandringham Road, Darwen, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm. He was remanded on bail until October 15 for the preparation of pre sentence reports.

Lisa Worsley, prosecuting, said Dr Haney was on duty as senior house officer and at 11.45pm on June 19 this year, had picked up the notes on Turner, the next patient she was to deal with. The notes showed he was shivering and shaking, had taken drink earlier and had previous drink problems

Dr Haney introduced herself to Turner but he turned and appeared to be walking off. The doctor said: "Are you going somewhere?" Turner replied: "I'm dead aren't I?"

The doctor said she didn't think so because he was standing and talking and then, without warning, he punched her in the face with both fists at the same time. "The doctor was taken completely by surprise," said Ms Worsley. "He then grabbed her by the collar and pulled her to the floor." Security staff were quickly on the scene and Turner was detained until police arrived.

Ms Worsley said Dr Haney said in her statement that she had been verbally abused on numerous occasions in the past but this was the first time she had been subjected to a physical assault.

When interviewed Turner said he could not remember the assault although he recalled everything leading up to it.

Kevin Preston, defending, said Turner had been a chronic alcoholic for a number of years. Following a long period of excessive drinking he had been forced to abstain from alcohol totally and that had affected him mentally. "The court has a duty to protect public servants but I will argue that my client is a young man who would benefit from the support of the probation service," said Mr Preston.

Mike Hall, facilities manager with the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Trust, said: "We are committed to supporting our staff and we will assist them and help then anyway we can to bring to book those people who cause harm or put our staff in the position where they feel threatened. If this results in court cases we are quite happy to support that.

"These acts of violence beggar belief. Our staff are trying to help people."

Mr Hall added there were many ant-violence programmes in place at the Trust.