There is no excuse for anyone attacking a health professional trying to help him or her, and anyone guilty of such an act should face the full force of the law.

This newspaper has long campaigned for better protection and stronger sentences for those who committed acts of violence or abuse against hospital staff with our End the Abuse campaign.

And although the figures were reduced after the introduction of a ‘mini police station’ at Bradford Royal Infirmary and the introduction of CCTV after the problem was highlighted, the issue has not gone away.

Again, yesterday, the case of BRI patient Saluk Alum, who fractured the finger of a nurse who tried to stop him from disturbing others in the ward, illustrates the point.

He can consider himself fortunate indeed not to have received a custodial sentence for the incident, which may have been more reckless than savagely violent, but resulted in a significant and painful injury for a nurse, nonetheless.

And let us be clear, this was a nurse simply going about her job, trying to help the patients she is responsible for; she and her colleagues deserve so much better.

Those who attend hospital may be in a state of discomfort and distress, but that is no excuse for lashing out at those who are trying to help them.

Our hospital staff face enough day-to-day difficulties as it is. They work long, unsociable hours in trying conditions.

It is intolerable that they should then be abused or attacked by the very people they are there to help and everything possible should be done to protect them and deter future incidents.