Incidents of violence or abuse suffered by Bradford hospital staff have doubled in the past six years, it was revealed today.

The shocking figures show that more than 400 staff at Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke's Hospital have been victims of acts of violence or aggression in the first six months of this year.

And bosses at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospitals, today warned that aggressive patients faced being refused medical treatment for up to a year.

The escalation in the number of violent incidents has resulted in staff reporting 203 incidents, ranging from verbal threats to physical attacks, between April 1 and June 30 this year - compared to 102 in the same period in 1998.

One patient caused £6,400 of damage at the accident and emergency department at BRI in June after becoming aggressive with assessment desk staff and hurling computers, medical equipment and a hearing loop system on to the floor.

Trust chief executive David Jackson said: "There is clearly no place for harassment of any kind in the NHS and it will not be tolerated.

"Unfortunately violence is a society problem not exclusive to the confines of the NHS.

"However, we remain determined to ensure that staff who spend their lives caring for others are not rewarded with intimidation, violence and the fear of violence.

"Like us, many members of the community will find it disappointing that people committed to caring for sick and poorly patients - many requiring urgent attention - should be subjected to threatening behaviour, verbal or physical abuse in these numbers. They go to work to care for others - not to become victims of violence, aggression or intimidation."

Mr Jackson warned that the Trust was using new "get tough" laws introduced by the Government this summer which give staff the right to turn away rowdy and badly behaved people which could lead to them being refused treatment for up to a year.

Every incident will also be reported to the police for the courts to deal with the offenders.

Mr Jackson said: "Members of the public who want to behave in this way need to understand that new regulations mean we can refuse treatment to any adult and that refusal can be denied for 12 months.

"It is just not acceptable. We shall take tough and appropriate action."

The Trust has also stepped up measures to protect its staff since a CHI (Commission for Health Improvement) survey, published in March, revealed 15 per cent of Bradford hospital staff had experienced physical violence and 39 per cent suffered harassment, bullying or abuse last year.

The CHI survey also showed that 17 per cent of staff at Airedale NHS Trust, which runs Airedale General Hospital, at Steeton, near Keighley, experienced physical violence and 39 per cent of staff suffered bullying and harassment last year.

In Bradford hospitals safety and security training has been increased and staff training programmes have now been tailored to the needs of different people and their jobs, with separate programmes for lone workers who work by themselves in the community and front line staff.

Staff are also now trained in non-physical techniques to diffuse a confrontational situation as well as in physical self-defence.

High-visibility security teams have started patrolling hot-spot areas and more closed circuit safety cameras have been installed in the hospitals.

Mr Jackson said training programmes designed to prevent violence and measures to safeguard staff remained a top priority.

He said: "All NHS staff do a marvellous job, often in very difficult circumstances and it is important they are treated fairly and with dignity, respect wherever they work.

"In turn we are committed to caring for the health and safety of our staff and will ensure they report all acts of violence to the police so the courts can take action where appropriate."