Staff at the borough's hospitals are being urged to not stand for physical assaults or verbal abuse from patients or visitors.
As part of their Security Awareness Month, Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust are putting emphasis on a new criminal offence of causing a nuisance or disturbance on NHS premises.
Between 2007 and 2008, NHS staff were subjected to 5
7 physical assaults and there were 83 cases of verbal abuse.
Staff are this month being reassured that they deserve to work and give treatment in an environment which is safe from nuisance or disturbance.
Ian Martin, Local Security Management Specialist (LSMS), said: "We will not shrink away from utilising these powers when an appropriate situation identifies itself as part of our ongoing campaign to eliminate violence towards staff.
"This is part of the NHS Security Management Service's overall strategy: to reduce violence to a minimum and to keep leading the way in ensuring proper protection for people, property and assets."
On November 30, Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health, will put into force Sections 119-120 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act.
These sections create a criminal offence of causing a nuisance or disturbance on NHS premises, providing the power for police constables or NHS staff to remove a person suspected of committing this offence from the premises.
Previous Security Awareness Months have contributed to more staff reporting physical assaults. In serious cases the police support staff through the criminal justice system.
