Police are to patrol the casualty department of a Northern Ireland hospital for the first time, it was announced today.
Two uniformed officers will be drafted into Belfast City Hospital's A&E unit to stop violent and drunken thugs attacking doctors and nurses.
With more than 5,000 assaults on healthcare staff across the North last year, health chiefs have decided to take the action. They have identified Thursday to Saturday nights, 10pm to 3am as the times when the threat is greatest.
British health minister Paul Goggins confirmed a three-month pilot scheme will begin this week.
He said: "There have been over 2,200 physical assaults and around 1,000 verbal attacks on healthcare staff, in the last six months alone, in Northern Ireland. This is unacceptable."
A register of those carrying out attacks may also be kept, along with on-the-spot fines for those causing trouble on hospital premises.
PA
