HEALTH chiefs have welcomed the imprisonment of a second man in the space of a week for assault on hospital staff.

Mark Craven, of Tudno Place, Penlan, Swansea, pleaded guilty to two counts of common assault before Swansea magistrates.

The 24-year-old was handed a 12-week custodial sentence for the attack on two mental health nurses, which happened on May 24 in Ward 6 at Cefn Coed Hospital.

Four days earlier Hashemi, 25, of Ysgol Street, Port Tennant, Swansea, was given a three-month jail term after he admitted assaulting an A&E doctor at Morriston Hospital last December.

Health Minister Edwina Hart said the verdicts sent out the message that violence against hospital staff would not be tolerated.

"Action will be taken against perpetrators," she added.

"It is important that the NHS comes down hard on people who come to hospitals and abuse or attack staff.

"There is no reason for it, and there is no excuse. These incidents not only harm staff and affect morale, they also hamper the ability of staff to care for other patients."

Gower AM Mrs Hart also said she hoped the two court cases would encourage NHS staff to report any future incidents.

She said: "The NHS works with the police and Crown Prosecution Service to hold people to account for their actions."

A spokeswoman for ABM University Health Board, which runs Morriston and Cefn Coed hospitals, added: "We work closely with the police to investigate such crimes, and support our staff where we believe a prosecution is appropriate.

"We have built up a good working relationship with the police and other intelligence is routinely shared, such as incidents in our Accident and Emergency departments may be referred to the police under the Anti-Social Behaviour Order referral system."

ben.wright@swwmedia.co.uk