The number of recorded assaults on staff at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW) has risen by nearly 25%.

Data released by NHS Protect shows the number of reported physical assaults against NHS staff assaults across England in 2014/15, including hospital workers, paramedics and community nurses.

According to the data there were 121 assaults against staff at MTW's two hospitals over the 12 month period, a 24.7% rise on the 97 offences committed the previous year.

Simon Bolton, Unison's regional organiser for health in Kent, said the figures highlighted the importance of maintaining the security of workers particularly in A&E departments.

He said: "There are no easy answers. More people are going to A&E under the influence of drugs and alcohol. It is down to staff in security and ensuring better education.

"If next year these assaults have gone up then we need to tell managers they need to get a grip on this."

Over the assaults, 46 did not involve medical factors, up from eight in 13/14.

Medical factors are considered to be when a patient suffered from mental illness or otherwise lacked the capacity to be held accountable for their actions.

Ron Faulds, security manager at MTW, said rise in recorded assaults was a result of work the trust had taken to improve its reporting culture.

He said: “Overall, the number of assaults on our staff comprises a very small percentage of the number of patients we see. However, providing a safe and secure working environment for our staff is a priority for us and we will continue to ensure the right reporting channels are in place, supported by our hospital security teams.”

There have been 67,864 reported physical assaults against NHS staff in England in 2014-15, a slight reduction of 819 on the previous year.

Richard Hampton, from NHS Protect, responsible for tackling crime across the health service, said: “No NHS staff should be physically assaulted and we encourage staff who are victims of violence to report it, so that appropriate action can be taken.

“While it is encouraging to see the total figure going in the right direction there is no room for complacency after this small reduction in reported assaults. We urge all health bodies, in all sectors, to take advantage of the joint working agreement with the police and the Crown Prosecution Service."