Southampton medics have launched a crackdown on the rising number of violent attacks on NHS staff.

A team based at Southampton General Hospital has spent a year investigating patient behaviour in a bid to cut assaults on doctors and nurses in emergency departments.

Their pioneering results, which are unveiled today, claim improved signage, information and building layouts could all help defuse potential bust-ups before they happen.

There were 57,830 physical assaults on NHS staff in 2010- 11 – up by 1,112 on the year before.

Of those, more than 2,000 were recorded across Hampshire and Southampton.

But after examining patient behaviour, a consultant at the General’s emergency department believes providing patients with a better understanding of the treatment system can cut that figure.

Dr John Heyworth, is now calling on hospitals to provide relevant information at specific moments as patients are processed through the emergency department, to reduce the risk of misunderstandings and flare-ups.

The research project, run with the Design Council and Department of Health, has found that better signs, including live information screens, and a new way of greeting patients when they arrive, could reduce the frustrations that can lead to violence.

Better lighting, decor, seating and procedures could also help.

Dr Heyworth said: “Violence and aggression towards staff and other patients in the emergency department is a major nationwide issue – it has been getting worse and has not shown any signs of letting up in recent years.

“But, while there will always be a small minority intent on causing trouble, there are others who can resort to aggressive behaviour because they don’t feel they have been communicated with effectively, their privacy has been compromised through limited space and they don’t know what to expect from their treatment pathway.

“Better processes for meeting patients and discussing what they can expect, better training for clinical and admin staff on handling volatile situations and improvements in the design of departments – some of which haven’t changed since the ’60s and ’70s – can help create a calmer environment.”