VIOLENT and abusive patients have been costing hospital staff and police hundreds of man hours each year.

According to figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, police were called to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, Calderdale Royal Hospital and Dewsbury District Hospital 96 times last year.

And Dewsbury District Hospital (DDH) last year recorded 48 physical assaults on its staff by patients – the equivalent of almost one attack each week.

Meanwhile A&E staff at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary (HRI) took a total of 294 sick days due to stress in 2009 – although the figure decreased to 32 sick days last year.

The majority of police call-outs were to incidents in the three hospitals’ accident and emergency (A&E) departments, the figures have revealed.

Of 59 call-outs to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary (HRI) last year, 51 were to the hospital’s A&E department.

HRI also experienced an increased number of call-outs last year, compared with 54 in 2009 and 43 in 2008.

Violent patients – many under the influence of drink or drugs – were often to blame for the incidents as well as confused elderly patients and aggressive partners or friends of a patient.

Police were also called to DDH following reports of patients absconding, break-ins, thefts, vandalism, fighting and suspicious parcels.

HRI opened a police room at the hospital’s A&E department this month.

It is hoped the room will provide reassurance to patients and staff who can report incidents to officers posted there.

A spokesman for Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, which manages HRI and Calderdale Royal Hospital (CRH), said: “The number of staff sickness days was higher in 2009 because long-term sickness absence is included in the figure.

“We encourage staff to report all incidents as part of our robust zero tolerance policy on violence. All incidents are investigated and the police are involved where necessary.