State-of-the-art security measures are being used in Bradford to protect hospital staff from soaring levels of abuse.

Panic alarms, security staff and CCTV cameras have become the face of healthcare in Bradford as policies are put in place to shield staff from physical attacks, violent threats and verbal abuse.

The drive comes after shocking new figures revealed in the Telegraph & Argus last week exposed a culture of abuse towards NHS staff in Bradford.

The statistics showed that more than 400 staff at Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke's Hospital had experienced aggression in the line of duty in the last six months.

Today Karen Snape, assistant director of non-clinical support services for Bradford Teaching Hospitals, responsible for security at BRI and St Luke's, said measures had been put in place to respond to the growing need for safety in hospitals.

She said: "We have a very sophisticated tracking system in A&E which tags nurses and monitors them if they get into difficulty.

"It is a panic system and when it is pressed the cameras lock onto the person and follow them wherever they may run. It also pages someone to go to their assistance."

She said round-the-clock security teams worked in the CCTV control room at BRI to monitor various points across the hospital and mobile patrol units, made up of a five-strong team and two security vans, responded to incidents across the Trust' s two hospital sites.

Eight car park officials were also employed to patrol the car parks and escort staff feeling vulnerable across the site.

She said: "We also issue panic alarms to staff who feel vulnerable or work alone."

BRI security guard Jehangir Hussain, who has patrolled the car park for 13 years and is also called to help out on wards, said his team was trained to try to calm angry patients or visitors verbally.

"We assess the situation and if things get out of hand we call the police," he said.

"There was an incident at St Luke's when an 80-year-old male patient was threatening staff with a sharp knife. We managed to talk him round and he handed over the knife.

"Another time I was called to a ward because a man was getting worked up because he wasn't able to have a cigarette and he threw a chair at a picture on the wall.

"I generally work in the days, when there isn't much bother, but when I have done nights in A&E I've seen a few fights and arguments - but nothing too serious."

The triggers of violence were also important in improving safety, according to Karen Snape.

"We have identified several key trigger factors and have reduced waiting times to stop frustration, rearranged the waiting area and provided people with information on plasma screens," she said.

"You have got to remember it is a minority. We are not saying all people in Bradford are violent and aggressive. It is only a minority who display that sort of behaviour."