Assaults on hospital staff have risen by a third in Scotland, according to figures published by a health service union.

Unison is calling on the Scottish Executive to change the law to ensure that those who attack or abuse NHS staff are automatically prosecuted.

The figures are based on surveys of staff throughout NHS trusts in Scotland.

Jim Devine says staff have rights

In Fife alone, more than 800 violent or aggressive incidents were reported last year.

However, many of these incidents are not reported to the police because nurses and paramedics believe it is part of the job.

According to the union, the most alarming rise in assaults came from family or visitors rather than patients.

Unison said that this is unacceptable.

The union's Scottish organiser, Jim Devine, pointed out that people going into hospitals quote the Patients' Charter and demand their rights.

But he said that people have to consider the rights of the staff as well.

Automatic prosecution

He stressed that being assaulted by a patient's relative or visitor is not part of the job.

He said there had been "a major increase" in physical and verbal abuse of staff.

"Even more worrying is the fact that in some trusts, nearly 30% of the assaults are being carried out by relatives and visitors," said Mr Devine.

"This is an unacceptable situation. While Unison have attempted to separate the sick and the psychotic from the abusive patient, it is not acceptable for relatives to be physically and verbally abusing staff.

"It is not part of their job."

The union is now planning to write to the Scottish Executive demanding automatic prosecution for people who physically abuse health service staff.

Nicola Sturgeon: "Tougher approach"

The Scottish National Party said assaults on staff were not acceptable and pointed to a growing problem.

Party health spokeswoman Nicola Sturgeon said: "It is simply not acceptable for patients or relatives, no matter how much stress they are under, to be abusive towards staff.

"Our health service workers deserve a working environment that is free from physical and verbal abuse.

"Whilst the relevant authorities must decide on a case-by-case basis what prosecutions are to be pursued, there is no doubt in my mind that a much tougher approach must be taken on actually tackling this growing problem."

Earlier this year, the executive said 16 schemes across Scotland would receive funding for projects to help protect workers from violent patients.

The �400,000 of funding was announced by Deputy Health Minister Hugh Henry, who also commissioned a report into the action which could be taken against those who abuse health staff.

The executive has also published guidance on tackling harassment of NHS staff.