STAFF working for Dorset HealthCare Trust were attacked 74 times by patients in April, according to latest figures.

Last month saw the highest level of reports in the last two years – a period which has seen an average of 48 incidents a month recorded.

One, which saw a trust employee assaulted by someone brought in from police custody, was deemed to be violent enough that the incident will be subject to a ‘serious incident investigation’.

The remaining 73 incidents were judged to have caused ‘low’ or ‘no harm’.

A report published for the trust’s May board meeting, says that three patients who were “acutely unwell” were involved in 26 of the reported cases.

It adds that an analysis of the cause of the attacks by patients was carried out with support plans produced to reduce the number of incidents.