Mr Toomey called on magistrates to spend a Friday or Saturday night in a hospital accident and emergency department.

Violence has an impact not only on staff, but also on patients

John Toomey, Unison

"It is not enough to sit on the bench and hear issues in a dispassionate way," he told BBC News Online.

"Violence in hospitals is a regular occurence. Someone drunk or on drugs who assaults someone should have the book thrown at them.

"Violence has an impact not only on staff, but also on patients."

New guidelines

The Unison statement follows a case at King's Lynn Magistrates Court in February when a woman pleaded guilty to attacking a receptionist at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn.

In December last year the government introduced new guidelines to help protect NHS staff.

Managers were told they had the right to withhold treatment "as a last resort" if staff are threatened, unless the condition is life-threatening.

Violent incidents

One in six people attending accident and emergency departments have alcohol-related injuries or problems, rising to eight out of 10 during peak times such as weekends and holidays.

Of the 65,000 violent incidents against NHS trust employees each year, 64% involve nursing staff.

Around the country, hospitals are adopting a "zero tolerance" policy towards abusive and violent patients.

Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham has started using court injunctions and anti-social behaviour orders.

Three people have already been served with such orders, banning them from hospitals unless they need life-saving treatment.

Patients who break the injunctions face being jailed.