HOSPITAL staff who fall victim to violence by patients or visitors must have strong support in pursuing the culprits through the courts, says a consultant.

Nick Jenkins, (pictured) clinical director of accident and emergency services for Gwent Healthcare Trust, said such support from employer NHS trusts is vital to the success of a proposed zero tolerance approach towards violence and abuse in Welsh hospitals.

The proposals, in a draft report recently sent to Welsh NHS trusts and health authorities by the National Assembly for Wales, fall short of the red and yellow card scheme which hospitals in England are being encouraged to take up, and that the Argus has campaigned for in Wales.

Instead, Assembly health minister Jane Hutt is backing a zero tolerance approach that places responsibility on trusts to develop policies on dealing with violence and abuse in partnership with frontline staff.

"We must make it clear that staff are going to be backed up and supported," said Mr Jenkins, an A & E consultant at Abergavenny's Nevill Hall Hospital for ten years. "There is also a responsibility on the staff to report incidents. Some staff tend to think it is part and parcel of the job and do not want the hassle of seeing it through.

"There is a responsibility to their colleagues in taking action against those who are violent or abusive towards them, because if these matters are seen through to the end, others will see that the process could act as a deterrent and it is worth it."

Mr Jenkins has yet to see the Assembly's draft report, but he believes more needs to be done to get the message across that violence from patients, and those who accompany them to or visit them in hospital, will not be tolerated.

"Whatever system is introduced I would welcome it, so that people get the message that it is in their best interests to behave and treat staff with respect," he said. "But we have to support staff. That is very important."

Gwent Healthcare Trust pursues a vigorous policy of taking action against anyone who is violent towards a member of staff.

A relative of a maternity unit patient assaulted two nurses and was convicted and jailed in the autumn.

Trust chief executive Martin Turner, in his report to the trust board, said both nurses had been adamant to see the matter through despite finding the process distressing. "The court made reference to the positive stand of the trust against this type of incident and viewed this type of crime on public servants as a 'serious offence'," said Mr Turner.