The Act, which was introduced in 2005, provides legal protection to doctors, nurses and midwives working in hospitals or whenever they are responding to an emergency, as well as protection for ambulance workers when they are on duty. 

From 1 April the Act will be extended to cover GPs, other doctors, nurses and midwives working in the community. The amendments were approved in January by the Justice Committee. 

Minister for Public Health Shona Robison said the extension will provide additional support for health service staff working in the community and will send out a strong message that violence against healthcare workers is “unacceptable and will not go unpunished.”  

She continued: "Fortunately most people recognise and respect the fantastic work that doctors, nurses and other staff in the health sector do but a small minority do not and treat them in a way that is unacceptable. 

"Abusive or violent behaviour must not go unchallenged and offenders face the possibility of being charged and prosecuted.” 

She said that we all owe NHS staff a “huge debt of gratitude” for the work they carry out on a daily basis, sometimes in very challenging circumstances, and criticised the “mindless minority” that thinks it is acceptable to abuse and attack health workers.  

"We have acknowledged that there is still a problem with under reporting of this type of offence perhaps because historically staff felt that dealing with abuse, aggression and violence was part of the job in an emergency environment.  

"It might also have been felt that nothing could be done if a member of staff was spat at, kicked or abused in the course of their duties.” 

However, she said this is not the case and urged more NHS to report cases of abuse or assault in the workplace.  

"We must send out a clear message to offenders that their actions will not be tolerated and they could face prosecution."