One in three doctors are said to have experienced violence

The Glasgow Primary Care NHS Trust wants to base the service in an existing surgery in the city.

The proposal is part of a drive to provide medical care for patients with "challenging behaviour".

GPs can strike patients from their list if they behave violently, but doctors in Glasgow will soon be able to transfer them to the new service.

Amid claims of harassment of doctors, a new GPs' contract is calling on health boards to provide a service to care for such patients wherever necessary.

The contract is being implemented via the Primary Medical Services Bill which is currently passing through the Scottish Parliament.

Patients need to be treated even if they are violent and we need to provide services for them Scottish Executive

Earlier this month the British Medical Association claimed violence at work is a problem for one in two doctors in Scotland, with one in three doctors experiencing violence over the last year.

The new service in Glasgow will provide the facilities for doctors to treat violent patients.

A spokesman for the Glasgow Primary Care NHS Trust said the level of security and training required would be decided after a surgery is chosen and a full safety assessment carried out.

The surgery may include a security guard to patrol the premises, CCTV to film the consultation area and a chaperone to stay with the GP at all times.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Executive welcomed the initiative.

"Patients need to be treated even if they are violent and we need to provide services for them," she said.