HOSPITAL staff in Inverclyde have suffered almost 200 violent and aggressive attacks during lockdown.

Shocking new figures have revealed that since March, a total of 192 incidents have been reported across four different establishments.

Staff at the Langhill Clinic, which deals with psychiatric patients, have been abused 120 times since March.

Orchard View - the £8m, 42-bed continuing care facility for adult and elderly people - has recorded 40 incidents.

A further 18 took place at the adjacent Larkfield Unit while there were 14 attacks at Inverclyde Royal.

Health board bosses have been left dismayed by the figures.

They say that throughout the lockdown period, staff have faced an 'upsurge in violence' in their workplace while working tirelessly through the Covid-19 pandemic to support patients and service users.

The situation has become so bad that there has been an increase in security required at the sites.

Anne MacPherson, NHS GGC’s director of human resources, said: “People behaving in a violent or aggressive way towards our staff or fellow patients can create a very frightening environment for our doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and support staff as well as other patients, who are trying to receive, in some cases, life-saving treatment.

“Our staff come to work to help people, support patients and their families, deliver vital care and ultimately save lives.

"They should not have to worry about being subjected to violence whether physical or verbal abuse.

“There was a slight drop in incidents at the start of lockdown in April, but unfortunately they have been on the rise ever since.

“Our teams have worked tirelessly against Covid since March, they should not have to face a further struggle with violent and aggressive members of the public.

Bosses have urged the public to treat their dedicated staff with respect.

Ms MacPherson said: “We want to provide a safe workplace for all of our people, but we need the public’s help.

"All we ask is that visitors and patients and service users are respectful to our staff when you are visiting our sites.

"They are there to help you and your loved ones, so please support them to continue to deliver the vital care our patients need.”

Since the start of March, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde staff have in total been subjected to almost 2,300 violent and aggressive incidents.

Dr Scott Davidson, the board's deputy medical director for acute services, said: “Covid has brought a huge challenge for our clinical teams.

"The virus has created significant new pressures - emotional pressure when supporting patients who cannot have visitors and see their families when they are desperately ill, combined with the physical pressure of carrying out their role.

“Our focus now has to be preparing for winter, ensuring we are equipped for any potential resurgence of Covid and enabling our teams to rest and recuperate.

"Our staff shouldn’t have to worry about being subjected to violence as well.

“Fortunately, of the hundreds of thousands of people who come through our doors every year, the majority treat our staff with the respect they deserve, and we thank them for that.

"We would simply like the minority who behave in an aggressive or violent way to try and do the same.”