GPs could be setting up surgery in police stations as part of a government crackdown against violence from patients.

New legislation comes into effect this week which gives medical staff more powers to deal with violent and abusive patients, including the use of secure surgeries for persistent offenders.

Launching the strengthened rules at a south London surgery where staff have been attacked, health minister John Denham said there was "no excuse for violent or abusive behaviour towards NHS staff".

The changes to the law mean persistently violent patients can now be treated in a safe location, sometimes at a hospital with security arrangements, or even at a local police station.

At the moment, although a GP can strike a violent patient off their lists, the health authority still has the duty to find the offender another GP.

But now, health authorities will no longer be obliged to provide patients with the most local GP if they have a history of violent or abusive behaviour.

Dr Frances Dudley, a GP at the Hurley Clinic in south London, said: "Our inner-city practice has had to deal with violent patients, which affects all our staff and patients.

"These new measures will mean that violent patients are not just passed around as an unwelcome problem, but can be treated in a more safe and secure environment."

Special arrangements

Special arrangements are already in force in some parts of the country, including Southampton where a secure GP surgery is being run within a police station.

Yorkshire Police are running a scheme giving doctors priority when there are incidents of violence or abuse.

Mr Denham said: "The Government has acted to make sure that it is the safety and well-being of local doctors, nurses and practice staff that is put first, not the convenience of violent patients.

"These measures also offer reassurance to patients who have had to cope with violent and disruptive patients in waiting rooms and surgeries."

NHS trusts, which run hospitals, have already been given targets by the Department of Health, to reduce violence against staff by 30% by 2003.

Tom Bolger, from the Royal College of Nursing, said: "No one should be afraid to go to work. Nurses working in a threatening atmosphere can't deliver the best patient care."