The Royal College of Nursing said attacks on nurses by patients were becoming more frequent and violent.

This is despite Scottish Executive attempts to tackle the problem.

The Scottish Health Minister, Malcolm Chisholm, told BBC Scotland the violence was "intolerable".

Nurses face kicking and spitting

In the Borders, new safety measures are being considered to counter a marked increase in assaults.

However it is feared longer waiting times for accident and emergency patients could be aggravating the problem.

At Borders General Hospital, Sister Cathy Ponton said: "It is certainly getting worse. It is certainly getting more frequent."

She spoke of one recent incident.

"We had two or three patients in who were all under the influence of alcohol. They all had to be arrested by the police.

He was unreasonable and then the rest of the waiting room decided to join in. I was very upset. It went through my mind: 'why am I doing this job?'

Alison Casualty Nurse

"The nurses were spat at. They were kicked and called really, really dreadful names.

"It is just an intolerable situation to be in and we should not be expected to work under those conditions."

The hospital is considering hiring a security official.

That will be in addition to closed circuit TV systems and personal alarms for staff.

A survey for the Royal College of Nursing earlier this year indicated 40% of nurses in Scotland had been harrassed or attacked while on duty.

An RCN spokesman, James Kennedy, said measures to protect nurses needed to be speeded up.

Malcolm Chisholm is issuing guidelines

Mr Kennedy said: "Day in, day out, Scottish nurses are the victims of violence and therefore the authorities have to take it more seriously than they have done to date."

Mr Chisholm said: "We have been very active this year drawing up guidance."

"The unions and the staff groups have been at the centre of the proposals in this guidance and it will be issued at the beginning of 2003."

Mr Chisholm said: "It is intolerable and this guidance is guidance for action. There must be a policy for managing violence and aggression.

"There must be robust and effective reporting procedures and counselling for staff."