NEW legal protections for NHS staff against nuisance and disruptive behaviour have come into force across hospitals and health settings in Wales today.

The changes create a specific criminal offence of causing a nuisance or disturbance on NHS premises and give police and authorised NHS officers new powers to remove people.

Behaviour covered by the offence includes verbal abuse, blocking corridors, preventing staff from carrying out their duties and creating excessive noise in waiting areas, wards and other spaces.

The powers do not apply to patients seeking medical advice, treatment or care for themselves.

But individuals who are not receiving care and refuse to leave when asked by staff or police could be removed, with officers permitted to use reasonable force if necessary.

Introduced under the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008, the measures aim to protect staff, patients and visitors so services can operate without disruption.

They were developed with police, prosecutors, NHS Wales bodies and trade unions, the Welsh government said.

Health Secretary Jeremy Miles said the powers support “safety, dignity and the workforce” without criminalising people seeking care.