ATTACKS on hospital staff have risen sharply over recent months, says a health trust.

A report by South Tees Acute Hospitals Trust, presented to health officials yesterday, revealed the number of physical assaults on staff soared to 79 last year.

The figure is more than double the number for 1999-2000, when only 31 attacks were reported.

It comes as the Trust, which governs five local hospitals, including South Cleveland, Middlesbrough General and North Riding, has spent more than £10,000 on an anti-violence training scheme for more than 300 staff, being implemented by Cleveland police.

The scheme, due to end this month, was prompted by a Government "zero tolerance" initiative, encouraging local health authorities and the Crown Prosecution Service to take a tough stance on hospital attacks.

Jonathan Maloney, South Tees Trust's health and safety manager, said this was partly responsible for the high figure.

"The statistics do look very bleak, but we encourage staff to report everything, so we are getting a more accurate reflection of what's happening," he said.

"Most reports resulted from three patients, and one patient was responsible for 18 attacks."

Mr Maloney said that since acci-dent and emergency departments, traditionally the targets for violence, introduced better security, medical and surgical wards have fallen victim.