The government has launched a campaign in Northern Ireland aimed at reinforcing the message that attacks against health staff are unacceptable.

Poster and radio advertisements will warn offenders that police will be called if staff are threatened.

Over the past year there have been more than 5,000 attacks on health and social services staff in Ulster, a statistic minister Angela Smith described as "completely unacceptable".

"Staff have not only to suffer the serious consequences of actual physical attacks, but also the fear and anxiety caused by threats and intimidation," she said.

"This is totally unacceptable. I cannot emphasise enough the importance which the department attaches to this issue and my determination to take a firm line.

"My department will be closely monitoring the number of incidents involving violence against staff and will expect employers not only to continue to take reasonable precautions to protect staff, but to actively support any member of staff who has been subjected to one of these disgraceful incidents."