NHS staff members were attacked on nearly 70,000 occasions in 2014/15, figures have shown.

Released by NHS Protect, and NHS Business Services Authority show there were 67,864 reported physical assaults against NHS staff in England, a small reduction of 819 from 68,683 in 2013/14.

The latest figures have increased from 54,758 assaults in 2008/9. 

Criminal sanctions following reported assaults increased slightly in the same 2014/15 period to 1,679, up by 30 from 1,649 in 2013/14.

The 2014 NHS staff survey showed a possible 34 per cent non-reporting of incidents of violence, so the figures could be even higher. 

The Royal College of Nursing's senior employment relations advisor Kim Sunley said: "Nobody should be assaulted or intimidated whilst going about their daily work.

"The figures are alarming and yet more evidence of the overwhelming pressures on the NHS."

A breakdown of the figures show the majority happened within mental health services, with a total of 45,220 reported. 

In the last year, there were 1,800 attacks on paramedics, an average of five attacks every 24 hours.

Doctors' practices were the location for more than 1,600 assaults.

Richard Hampton, head of external engagement and services at NHS Protect, said: "No NHS staff should be physically assaulted and we encourage staff who are victims of violence to report it, so that appropriate action can be taken.

"While it is encouraging to see the total figure going in the right direction there is no room for complacency after this small reduction in reported assaults. We urge all health bodies, in all sectors, to take advantage of the joint working agreement with the police and the Crown Prosecution Service.

"They can build local arrangements on this national agreement to ensure criminal assaults are identified and do not go unpunished."

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