HOSPITAL chiefs are considering prosecuting patients who threaten or abuse staff as part of a zero tolerance crackdown.

Aggressive and threatening patients -- including the mentally ill -- and visitors are being sent letters warning them they may face court proceedings if they misbehave again.

The moves are part of the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust's policy to stop the rising tide of violence against hospital staff.

John Dell, the Trust's director of operations, said: "We will push very hard for prosecutions on every occasion when staff are assaulted, threatened or abused.

"Our staff deserve to be protected by every means possible so they can do their job.

"In mental health cases, it would depend on the circumstances, but just because someone is mentally ill, it doesn't mean that they don't know what they are doing."

Hospital bosses are consulting with police and the Crown Prosecution Service about prosecuting offenders, especially mentally ill patients attending the accident and emergency department at Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

A mini-police unit to support hospital staff was opened by the department entrance when the campaign was launched three months ago. Since then, 30 letters have already been sent to abusive patients and visitors. Mr Dell said: "If someone uses atrocious language or threatens to thump staff, we will write to them the next day and say if they behave like that again they will be removed by the police and we will seek a prosecution.

"Often when a patient comes to A&E they may have been drinking, and in the cold light of day receiving a letter like that may stop them misbehaving again."

Mr Dell said the hospital would make every effort to treat patients even if their behaviour got out of hand and police were called.

Officers may stay with patients while they are treated, or may bring them back to the hospital when they have calmed down.

In the last three months, there were 25 assaults and 27 incidents of serious abuse or harassment. Seven assaults were in the accident and emergency department and 19 in the mental health unit.

This is a 24 per cent improvement on the previous three months from October to December, when there were 35 assaults and 34 incidents of abuse.

There have been two prosecutions since January and three are pending. Two offences are being processed which could result in prosecutions.

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