Attacks lead to hospital review

Police are on patrol at the Royal Cornwall Hospital

Health officials are reviewing security at the Royal Cornwall Hospital after an increase in physical and verbal attacks on staff.

In 2007 there have been 21 arrests for assault, being drunk and disorderly, public order offences and common assault at the hospital near Truro.

The hospital already has two police officers in the hospital and an in-house 24-hour security team.

And it is now reviewing public access to parts of the hospital.

'Great stress'

Security advisor Barry Sobey said: "I am quite appalled to see the number of people who come in to the accident and emergency department under the influence of drink and or drugs.

"If they could see how they are putting staff under a great deal of stress, they would not have done this."

Mr Sobey said the hospital was now reviewing public access to the hospital which could mean more supervision of visitors to wards.

Sue Baggs, who leads a team of district nurses in Redruth, said: "One nurse was accosted in the street completely out of the blue.

"She ran back to her car and drove off, but afterwards she was extremely distressed.

"We are very vulnerable because a lot of the time we're going into the unknown as lone workers."