The Argus revealed yesterday how hundreds of NHS workers are being assaulted or verbally abused while on duty at hospitals across Sussex.

Health reporter Siobhan Ryan argues for a zero tolerance approach and the need to name and shame those offenders who attack staff who are only trying to do their job.

In the words of Worthing Hospital accident and emergency nurse Andy Boyce, lashing out at a member of staff because you are stressed and upset about having to visit hospital may be understandable, but it certainly isn't acceptable.

On the one hand, if a person has a mental health problem and is not really aware of their actions and they attack someone, then that is a separate issue.

However if a patient or visitor becomes aggressive or violent because they are unhappy about something the hospital may or may not have done, then action should be taken against them.

The number of attacks and abuse NHS staff face every day may be dropping a little but each one is still one too many.

There is no point biting the hand that is there trying to help.

Whatever the stress, whatever the provocation, whatever the frustration, getting abusive is not the answer.

Sometimes it is down to drink, sometimes down to drugs, or sometimes just down to aggression from a growing number of people who believe their wants or needs should take precedence over everyone elses.

Hospitals are caring for thousands of patients every week, all of whom need attention and support.

Some are more seriously ill than others.

It might be frustrating waiting a long time in A&E, especially when someone who came in after you is seen first.

But hospital staff have to assess each case on its individual merits and decide which one needs treatment more quickly.

Ironically, the longer you wait to be seen, the less critically ill you are.

The vast majority of patients, visitors and relatives are reasonable and will accept they may have to wait or will make a complaint to the right person in a straightforward way.

However it is the minority, as always, who cause the problems.

Many hospitals have a “three strikes and you're out” warning system for those patients and visitors who are regular offenders when it comes to hurling insults, demands or fists.

They include those who may come in drunk or high on drugs on a Friday or Saturday night each week and who need to be patched up after a fight or fall.

They are often the ones who demand to be seen and treated at once and become violent or abusive when they are asked to wait because someone more critically ill needs to be seen to first.

Or it could be the relative of a person staying in hospital for a long time who are unhappy with the treatment or care given to their loved one.

Again, although everyone wants the best for their family and are rightly angry if they see something happening that is not quite right, there is no need to take it out on the staff.

There are proper ways to make a complaint and they are the ones that will get the results.

Too much aggression and the only result will be a visit to the police station and an appearance before the magistrates court.

Perhaps the public naming and shaming of those offenders would act as a deterrent and make them stop and think if they found themselves in the same position again.

A depressing element to this story are the number of NHS workers who see such incidents, in particular verbal abuse, as simply part of the job.

It means the actual number of incidents is probably much higher than officially recorded because many just won't bother or will simply brush it aside.

Having to suffer abuse is certainly not just part of any job and should not be tolerated.

Doctors, nurses, reception staff and porters do a good job under sometimes extremely busy and tough conditions.

The very nature of their job shows they are dedicated to helping others so they should not be attacked or abused while trying to do it.

Of course nobody is perfect and there are times when standards fall short but there are ways and means to sort it out.

There have been calls in some quarters for repeat offenders to be refused treatment altogether and banned from a hospital but that is probably a step too far.

Whatever the person is like, potentially putting their life at risk would not be the answer.

However, it should be made clear that any abuse is not acceptable and the threat of legal action should also be followed through.

The more times cases come up in court, the more the message might get through and staff will be able to get on with the job they are there to do.