Health centre workers have also faced danger

Other health staff have suffered attacks at their place at work across the Wishaw area.

Those working in smaller hospitals and health centres have also been victims of assaults over the past three years.

The largest figure was recorded at Cleland Hospital which noted 54 assaults during 2016 – a sharp rise on the 20 recorded the previous year.

A health board spokesperson said: “NHS Lanarkshire continually work in partnership with local police in the management of aggressive and violent individuals.

“Prevention and management of violence and aggression training is compulsory for NHS Lanarkshire staff to provide staff with the skills needed to assist in the prevention, prediction and management of violence and aggression.

“Staff are actively encouraged to report incidents.”

Wishaw’s Houldsworth Centre had three recorded incidents in 2016 while there was a similar number at Shotts Health Centre.

None were recorded at Newmains Health Centre although two were recorded in both 2014 and 2015 while in Carluke four attacks were confirmed in 2016. However, that number is significantly down on the 11 recorded in 2014 and the seven attacks in 2015.

In Motherwell, staff at Airbles Health Centre had to contend with 41 incidents last year.

That number has been rising steadily since 2014 when 24 assaults took place.

There were six recorded attacks at Motherwell Health Centre last year.