BOLTON hospital chiefs have welcomed new measures to crack down on violence against doctors and nurses.

Although still rare, the number of reported physical assaults and verbal abuse aimed at Bolton's National Health Service staff has increased over the last 12 months.

There were two incidents of physical aggression and a further eight of verbal abuse, but these figures do not include attacks against family doctors and their staff, or those aimed at dentists and opticians.

In addition, health service bosses in the town point out many of the incidents are unreported -- a situation they hope will change.

They were speaking in response to new tough measures designed to crack down on the problem announced by Government Health Secretary Alan Milburn last week.

Among the measures was the creation of a new Department of Health legal protection unit which would fund the private prosecutions of offenders who assaulted NHS staff.

He also pledged there would be a better system across the health service for reporting violent attacks.

Mr Milburn added that hospital security would receive more training to prevent volatile situations turning nasty, and that health trusts would work more closely with police to stop persistent offenders.

He said: "Nurses are up to four times as likely as other employees to experience violence and aggression.

"NHS staff in accident and emergency departments are among the most likely to face this anti-social behaviour. Violence against NHS staff is a crime. It should be treated as such."

Latest figures nationally show violence against NHS staff has risen by 13 per cent in the past two years. Yet it is still estimated that about 40 per cent of incidents are not being reported.

A spokesman for Bolton's Primary Care Trust said: "Thankfully physical assaults in community and primary care settings are rare, but verbal abuse and aggressive behaviour are also totally unacceptable.

"No one should feel vulnerable or threatened while carrying out their job, least of all those working in the caring professions.

"At the Primary Care Trust, we can train staff on how to deal with violence and aggression; we encourage them to report all incidents; and we will take any action necessary, in conjunction with the police, to deal with persistent aggression towards staff."