A MAN taken to hospital following a drug overdose became abusive towards staff trying to help him.

Blackburn magistrates heard that when security staff were called they were subjected to racially-aggravated abuse and threats towards them and their families.

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Michael Chappell, 37, of Pritchard Street, Burnley, pleaded guilty to racially-aggravated threatening behaviour at Royal Blackburn Hospital. He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report with a warning that all options, including custody, would be open to the sentencing bench.

Parveen Akhtar, prosecuting, said police were called to the accident and emergency unit where Chappell was being restrained by security staff. He had earlier thrown punches and threatened to smash their heads in and kill their families.

Daniel Frazer, defending, said his client’s younger sister had taken her own life in June and Chappell had difficulty coming to terms with that. Mr Frazer said: “On the day of the incident he had taken a lot of medication which was an attempt on his life. He was in hospital because of that and accepts he behaved improperly.”

Last month, the Lancashire Telegraph published figures which revealed a spiralling number of physical assaults against NHS staff in east Lancashire.

The number of attacks at the Royal Blackburn and Burnley General hospitals had almost doubled in the last year, and ambulance crews and mental-health workers reported a surge of cases.

Although there was also an increase in reported assaults across England, the national figures rose only by 11 per cent.

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust has a zero-tolerance approach to violence and abusive behaviour on staff, said a spokesman. He said 68 per cent of employees have had conflict-resolution training in the past three years. The number of security guards at the Royal Blackburn Hospital has also increased from three to four.

Two police officers have been stationed at Royal Blackburn Hospital’s emergency department since last summer, although they are focused primarily on helping difficult patients access different services.