The number of attacks by patients and their relatives on health service workers is to be tackled by a leading health union.

Unison, which is the country's largest union for public sector workers, will launch an action plan on Monday to combat the problem.

The union has warned that some events like Old Firm football matches are turning accident and emergency departments into war zones.

A survey by the union of almost 1,500 health workers suggested four in 10 have been attacked by a patient or patient's relative in the past three years.

Automatic prosecution

Now the union wants more workers to be given additional training to help them deal with aggressive patients.

The union also wants to see automatic prosecution for violent assaults.

It has also demanded a warning card system which could lead to abusive patients being barred from hospitals and other health centres.

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

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