Health bosses in Bradford are considering the use of a football-style red and yellow card system for dealing with violent and abusive patients.

The move follows the introduction of the system by Airedale Primary Care Trust where persistent offenders could be banned from doctor's surgeries and other PCT premises for up to a year.

A spokesman for Bradford City PCT said: "We are constantly looking for new ways of dealing effectively with violent and abusive patients and visitors.

"We will be monitoring the success of the red and yellow card scheme in Airedale to see if it is appropriate for use in Bradford City PCT."

The PCT currently sends warning letters to abusive and violent patients.

A spokesman from the Bradford South and West PCT said: "The very clear message being sent out, through the introduction of this and other schemes, is that violence and abuse will not be tolerated in primary care.

"Each PCT in Bradford has a procedure in place for dealing with this type of patient and visitor but these are always being assessed."

In the past, violent patients were removed from their doctor's lists and re-allocated but under the new general medical services contract PCTs are now required to provide a service.

Any patient whose actions against staff result in police intervention receive separate medical services in a Bradford South and West PCT scheme.

The are transferred to a service provided by Dr Charles Micallef and partners at Highfield Health Centre in Tong Street. The scheme has been in place for one year and so far three patients have been referred.

Liz Barrett, clinical lead for vulnerable people and hard to reach groups for Airedale PCT, is leading the red and yellow card scheme.

She said: "We are trying to provide a tailor-made service to meet the needs of all our patients. The scheme helps us to ensure each case is dealt with individually."

First, unruly patients will get an informal warning from a senior manager, but failure to comply will result in a yellow card being issued.

The warning remains on a patient's card for one year. In extreme cases the patient will receive a red card immediately, at the request of a director, and excluded from Airedale PCT care.

So far one patient has been referred to the scheme which has been backed by the Department of Health as part of it zero tolerance initiative against violence in the NHS. Each PCT will receive £5,000 annually to pay for the scheme.

A spokesman from Bradford North PCT said: "We are currently in the process of reviewing our policy for dealing with violent and abusive patients.

"As part of that review schemes used by other PCTs will be evaluated for their effectiveness."