ONE in 10 staff at Basingstoke hospital, who responded to a recent survey, say they have experienced physical violence at work in the last year.

Nurses seem to be bearing the brunt of the problem, with 20 per cent of respondents admitting they have faced violence at work.

It has also been revealed that 35 per cent of staff who responded have experienced harassment, bullying or abuse in the last year - nurses again making up a large chunk of those on the receiving end.

Gavin Wright, director of human resources at Basingstoke hospital, said staff in the accident and emergency department still have to cope with a serious level of aggression, even though the reporting of violence in the survey was down 14 per cent on last year.

He said: "A&E staff deal with people who can be very angry and upset, and the problems do tend to be predominantly verbal aggression. On Friday and Saturday nights, a few people are worse for wear because of drink and that is where you tend to get pushing and shoving."

He added the growth in the number of bars which followed the opening of Festival Place in Basingstoke had led to more work for A&E staff at weekends, but he was not aware of any serious beatings having taken place at the hospital.

He said he was very pleased to note that Basingstoke hospital ranks second lowest in the national statistics for violence. On average, 14 per cent of hospital staff in England and Wales reported facing violence in the workplace compared with the 10 per cent figure at Basingstoke.

The survey, produced on behalf of independent health watchdog the Commission for Health Improvement, was sent to 842 staff - and 295 were subsequently returned.

Mr Wright said hospital managers have updated their zero tolerance policy and have issued staff with a security booklet, produced in conjunction with Basingstoke police, to combat problems of aggression.

Vulnerable members of staff have been given personal alarms and training on how to deal with aggressive patients is also being given.

Mr Wright said: "The downward trend in violent incidents is encouraging as it shows the measures we have put in place are working."