ATTACKS on Bradford District Care Trust staff have increased by almost ten per cent in the last year, shocking figures have shown.

But physical assaults on workers at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust and Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust were slightly down on the previous year.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire Ambulance Service Trust has reported 148 assaults on its staff for the 2014/15 year, an increase from 110 in 2013/14.

The data, published by NHS Protect, shows the number of physical assaults on staff at Bradford District Care Trust has risen by nine per cent within 12 months, from 921 in 2013/14 to 1,002 in 2014/15.

Nicola Lees, deputy chief executive and director of nursing at Bradford District Care Trust, said: "The safety of staff and patients is always paramount.

"The increase in the number of incidents is due to a rise in the number of people we supported over the last year with challenging behaviours.

"The majority of these incidents were minor, such as a push.

"We work closely with service users and carers through our patient advice and complaints team to listen to concerns and understand what can lead to aggression."

Bradford Teaching Hospitals Trust also reported a slight decrease in its number of staff attacks, down from 165 in 2013/14 to 156 assaults during 2014/15, from 165 in 2013/14.

Karon Snape, local security management specialist for the Trust, said: "The slight decrease is largely due to a fall in what we call 'unintentional incidents' involving medical factors, where the patient, because of their mental health, treatment or disability, did not know what they were doing."

At the Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Airedale General Hospital in Steeton, the number of assaults has decreased by six, from 49 to 43, between 2013/14 and 2014/15.

Rob Dearden, director of nursing at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said it has a "zero tolerance" policy on any attacks.

He said: "We are pleased to see a decrease in the number of reported assaults on our staff over the past year, however, we are not complacent and have a zero tolerance policy against such incidents.

"If our staff are assaulted they are encouraged to report it so that appropriate support can be given and because any violence or abuse towards our staff is unacceptable."

The total number of assaults for Airedale, Bradford Teaching Hospitals and Bradford District Care Trusts has increased by six per cent from 1,135 in 2013/14 to 1,201.

Unions said employers can do more to try to prevent further attacks on NHS staff.

Sarah Dodsworth, regional director for the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in the Yorkshire and the Humber, said: "The level of assaults against staff seems to be a barometer for the enormous pressures that many NHS trusts are facing.

“There may well be instances where assaults or aggressive behaviour are related to a medical condition, but there is more employers can do to prevent incidents and reduce harm.

"With training, support for lone workers, safe staffing levels and a well-designed environment for care, employers can help to mitigate the risks to staff."

Unison officials have condemned the figures for Bradford District, in particular, calling them shocking.

Gary Cleaver, regional organiser for Unison in Yorkshire and the Humber, said: "I think these figures are the tip of the iceberg.

"I think the numbers would be significantly higher if all assaults were reported to the police."

Across England, the number of reported assaults nationwide decreased by 819 from 68,683 to 67,864 in the year to April.

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