Assaults on health care workers in the province have soared

The attack happened at a respiratory ward in Belfast City Hospital.

Verbal and physical assaults on health care workers in Northern Ireland have soared to 5,065 in 2002/03, according to Department of Health statistics.

This is an increase of about 3,000 on the previous year.

A patient who witnessed the attack said she was shaken by the incident.

"I was really scared. I thought he was coming at me and then he went towards the doctor," she said.

"He just seemed to go crazy."

There has to be a zero tolerance attitude to offenders Brian Patterson British Medical Association

The patient, described by the hospital trust as "disturbed," had been admitted to the ward from the accident and emergency department.

It is understood he took the snooker cue from a nearby games area.

The doctor was not seriously injured.

British Medical Association NI junior doctors committee chairman Paul Devine said: "Attacks on staff cannot be tolerated. Our wards must be made as safe as possible."

BMA NI GPs committee chairman Brian Patterson called for a "major toughening of the law" to prevent attacks, following the general upsurge in assaults.

"There has to be a zero tolerance attitude to offenders," he said.

"The message being sent out at the moment is that it is acceptable to thump doctors. It is important to do something before someone is killed."

He called for measures such as CCTV and alarm systems to be installed in health centres, as well as a register for violent patients.

A DHSSPS spokesman said the department recognised the threat of violence, particularly to A&E staff.

He added that the department was striving to minimise the risk of incidents and help to spread good practice.

Attacks and abuse directed at ambulance crews have risen by 128% in the last year, with more than 70 attacks on paramedics in the province reported in the past six months.