Trained security guards are needed at north Essex hospitals, a nurses' spokesman said.

Des McCarron, chairman of the Royal College of Nursing in north-east Essex, said staff felt there was not a quick response when they had problems with patients.

He said: "I know some nurses feel they have had enough.

"Especially out of hours, and in a public place, the level of security is not particularly high. There needs to be specific security people.

"Porters do not join the Trust as security men."

Tarmac Service Master took over responsibility for security at the Trust last year.

For the year 1997/98, physical assaults on staff at the Trust totalled 97. A Trust spokesman said the vast majority were minor, and two resulted in staff having to take the next day off.

"The biggest single location of assaults was in care of the elderly wards, with confused people who do not necessarily realise you are trying to help them," he said.

Acts of aggression against staff, including verbal assaults, threats and swearing, stood at 69.

Nursing staff in casualty at Colchester General Hospital are offered aggression management training to defuse difficult situations.

The spokesman added: "Aggression, threats and swearing are particularly common in casualty and in out-patients. They are quite often related to people having to wait a long time.

"We are always taking with Tarmac about trying to do all we can to minimise risk. There is nothing firmly set on the agenda and uniformed security staff are not likely in the future."

For the last six months Tarmac has supplied porters with two-way radios.

The spokesman said: "If an incident occurs on a ward at whatever time of day or night, someone can ring a helpline manned by a Tarmac person.

"They can then use the two-way radio to contact the porters. They know at all times where porters are."

Colchester General also has 24-hour closed circuit television.

He said porters were being trained in aggression management, although fewer were on duty at night.

Last week the Government announced new national targets to stamp out violence and harassment in hospitals, including better layouts in casualty units, more panic buttons, and strategies for preventing violence.

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