NURSES are being coached in self-defence to combat a growing number of assaults on hospital staff.

Instructors from Cleveland Police are teaching "breakaway techniques" to 200 Middlesbrough nurses and medical staff.

The courses aim to ensure staff are equipped to deal with violent situations, to diffuse or get away from potentially harmful situations and summon help.

There have been 48 reported attacks on staff so far this year in hospitals across Middlesbrough, although the figure may be even higher, as some nurses feel attacks are a fact of life and may not report them.

"Violence or intimidation of staff in a hospital environment, who are treating the sick, is completely unacceptable,'' said Jonathan Maloney, health and safety manager with South Tees Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

He said attacks were stressful not just for the staff on the receiving end, but for patients and their visitors.

He said: "We want our staff to be fully trained in how to effectively handle such incidents. The bottom line is that they must know their safety and that of our patients comes first."

PC Mick Couhig, who is running the training, said: "The training we deliver to the nursing staff is based upon the National Police Personal Safety Training Programme.

"The main elements are conflict management, tactical communications, breakaway skills and awareness - all of which have proved very successful in reducing assaults on police officers.''

He added: "We are confident that after the training, hospital staff will be better equipped to deal with violent or potentially violent situations in the future.''