'3,000 attacks' on nurses in year

Nurses were attacked 3,000 times in Northern Ireland in the past year

There have been more than 3,000 attacks on nurses in Northern Ireland in the past year, according to new figures.

The figure is six times the number of attacks on ambulance staff over a five-year period.

It is the first time a separate figure for attacks on nurses has been published.

Janice Smyth, from the Royal College of Nursing, said that the attacks were totally unacceptable and required urgent action.

"The RCN has for some time been drawing attention to the unacceptably high level of attacks on health service staff but our members will be outraged to note the staggering number of attacks on nurses," Ms Smyth said.

"The time for well-meaning words of reproach is over.

"People in Northern Ireland need to understand that, if they hit a nurse, they will go to jail. The message must be that simple."

She said the fear of attacks was a significant factor as to why some nurses were leaving the service.