Increase on assault on hospital staff

There's been an increase in patient on staff assaults in 2015. Photo / Thinkstock

There's been a rise in assaults on hospital staff across Wellington in the past year - and figures show its nurses bearing the brunt of it.

Numbers released to Newstalk ZB show Capital and Coast and Hutt Valley District Health Boards both saw an increase in patient on staff assaults in 2015, compared to the year before.

Hutt Valley DHB figures show nurses are assaulted the most.

The Nurses Organisation's Suzanne Rolls says the union is working with DHBs across the country to address the issue.

Workplace violence needs to be eliminated, she said. There needs to be better reporting - and there need to be initiatives put in so nurses aren't exposed to violence when they go to work.