MORALE among workers at Calderstones is at an all time low according to the union -- but bosses say they are investing in more staff to try and resolve staff concerns.

Latest figures show that staff working at the site in Whalley take an average of 16 days off sick each year, and that employees are assaulted by patients hundreds of times during that period.

The damning statistics were discussed by Unison's branch secretary Pete Hawkins weeks before the Lancashire Evening Telegraph revealed that people who have committed for crimes such as manslaughter, arson, child sex offences and rape have been housed at Calderstones in recent months.

Mr Hawkins, a nursing assistant, said: "Morale is at an all-time low. The staffing levels are absolutely terrible and people are getting hurt because of it.

"Aggression and violence towards staff is not being well managed. Some of these sickness absences are due to staff having time off after being assaulted." Unison's regional officer Brendan Hoyle agreed: "Calderstones is understaffed and it's putting patients and staff at risk.

"Our members are being assaulted and are becoming sick with stress."

Russ Pearce, chief executive of Calderstones NHS Trust, said: "The issue of recruitment and staffing levels is a national problem and one we are trying to address. From within our own budget, we are investing a further £250,000 in extra nursing staff, although it will take time to recruit them.

"We do have an issue over sickness levels which is running at about the national average.

"We are working closely with the staff side and trade unions about incidents and assault on staff. Any incident is an incident too many.

"Every time there is an incident we take it seriously and look at the causes.

"I would not say that every incident is linked to staffing numbers.

"Poor morale is not something I have picked up on. It is a hard thing to measure although you do get pockets of high and low morale."