HOSPITAL workers are being recruited to become special constables as a part of a crackdown on attacks by patients.

Lancashire Constabulary want the specials to volunteer to patrol the Royal Blackburn Hospital site in their own time, for up to 16 hours a month, where they will have the same power as full-time police officers.

A dedicated police office has also opened in the hospital’s emergency department, and all front-line staff have been trained in conflict resolution.

Hospital bosses said attacks on staff have not increased recently, but more staff are reporting incidents and they are now being routinely analysed by both police and health bosses.

The scheme has been criticised by campaigners.

Burnley MP Gordon Birtwistle said: “I thought the hospital already had security staff?

“Staff should not be asked to do this on top of their hours. The hospital should get more security.

“If anyone did volunteer what would happen if they got hurt? I would be concerned that a hospital would then have a worker with specialist knowledge off sick.”

Police have highlighted attacks by repeat offenders, such as 37-year-old chronic alcoholic Andrew Hooson, who has been convicted for hurling abuse at workers, being drunk and disorderly, carrying out physical attacks and has racially abused a guard at the hospital.

Tim Ellis, from the Unison union, said: “We welcome the moves, and the efforts of the police in tackling this problem “It’s unacceptable that staff are being attacked, and nationally, it’s an issue of particular acuteness in A&E wards, where there are people under the influence of drugs and alcohol and where waiting times can be long, though that is in no way an excuse.”

Inspector Abid Khan from Lancashire Police said: “A drive is underway to recruit special constables from NHS Trusts in Lancashire; the aim being to bolster the police presence in local hospitals and ensure that staff, patients and visitors feel more secure.

“The initiative is not unique to Lancashire – other forces have done similar recruitment drives within their own local NHS Trusts.

“It is not as a direct result of any increase in crime on hospital grounds. It is purely to increase reassurance for staff and patients and provide support for the hospital’s own security staff.”

Tim Barlow and Ian Kilroy, from the security management team at East Lancashire Hospitals Trust, said: “The Trust works in partnership with the police and other agencies to reduce criminality on the Trusts’ premises and against Trust staff.

“Recent court cases show the commitment of the Trust in their aim to reduce incidents throughout the organisation.

“Persistent abuse and misuse of NHS staff and the services they provide are a drain on resources and our staff should be able to provide an invaluable, life saving and often unseen service without fear of verbal abuse and aggression.

“The Trust delivers training to all front line staff in conflict resolution and physical security measures such as door access control systems are in place.”

Other measures being taken to ensure the safety of staff and parents include: • Employment of dedicated security staff who work closely with the local police • Prosecuting offenders where evidence and clinical rationale supports it. Convictions are publicised and shared with staff.

• CCTV across sites to further deter and prevent violence and aggression • Security risk assessments for staff undertaken by managers • More than 500 community based staff issued with lone worker radio devices for their personal safety.

Hooson was jailed for 18 weeks last week, after pleading guilty to breaching the order that bans him from being at Royal Blackburn Hospital, unless in an emergency.

Blackburn Magistrates Court heard that shortly after midnight on Tuesday, police were called to the hospital where they found Hooson slumped in the doorway to Accident and Emergency in an intoxicated state. No attack occurred during this incident.

No figures on the amount of attacks that have happened at the hospital have been made available.