Staff at Queen's and King George Hospitals are set to wear body-worn cameras so they can 'red card' abusive patients.

Violence against hospital staff has more than doubled in east London over the last three years since the pandemic.

And now the two hospitals will use cameras similar to those used by the police, along with the launch a 'no tolerance' public awareness campaign.

The hospitals are introducing 60 new video recorders to use in A&E departments and frailty units to protect staff.

A series of ‘No Abuse No Excuse’ posters were put up on today (February 26) by Barking, Havering and Redbridge University NHS trust, after staff involved in violent confrontations decided to ‘go public’ and speak out.

One nurse, Yvonne Ihekwoakba, was punched to the ground by a man having treatment.

“My patient was verbally abusive when I offered him his medication,” she revealed. “I tried to calm him down.

“But the next thing I knew I was punched in my stomach and landed on the floor. I was in A&E for several hours.”

Incidents have also included threats to kill, racist abuse, with staff being told to “go back to the jungle” and even teeth being smashed.

Security officer Mohammed Islam was attacked while taking a patient back to his room.

“He kicked me in the jaw,” Mohammed recalled. “The man broke my teeth and I was bleeding. I found it challenging physically and mentally to come back to work again.”

Appointments staff member Theo Kayode-Osiyemi has faced racial abuse while meeting the public at his desk.

He said: “I have often been called names that are not pleasant to hear or repeat. I was told one day to go to the jungle where I belong.”

The ‘no nonsense’ campaign is warning people visiting hospital that hitting, shouting or racist remarks “won’t be tolerated”.

Hospital chief executive Matthew Trainer warned: “Our staff should not be shouted at, hit or subjected to racist abuse while doing their job. It’s happening more and more in our hospitals and we are taking action.

“Our message couldn’t be simpler — no abuse, no excuse.”

The hospitals are making it more straightforward for staff to ‘red card’ or ban abusive patients from the premises for 12 months when it is clinically safe to do so. This has only happened once in the past five years under the existing, more complicated rules.

They are also stepping up staff training and increasing the visibility of security officers.

The number of incidents reported at the two hospitals in January rose to 75, compared to half that number in January 2021.

Figures from the 2022 NHS Staff Survey show that across England, 28pc of staff had been subject to harassment, bullying or abuse from patients, their relatives or other members of the public while at work.

And 14.5 per cent of the workforce have faced violence and aggression from those they are caring for.