There were more than 1,300 assaults on NHS staff in the Bristol area in the last year, according to new Department of Health figures.

The data released by the NHS Security Management Service shows that 681 members of Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership (AWP) staff reported assaults in 2008/09.

There were 221 attacks on staff reported at North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT), which runs Frenchay and Southmead hospitals, 195 at Bath and North East Somerset Primary Care Trust, and 85 at University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (UH Bristol), which runs the city centre hospitals.

Great Western Ambulance Service (GWAS), which operates in the Bristol area, had reports of 44 assaults on staff. There were 58 attacks on NHS South Gloucestershire staff and 33 on employees at Weston General.

NHS Bristol reported just seven assaults on staff during the period, while there were two at NHS North Somerset.

GWAS told the Evening Post that one of its paramedics has found it difficult to trust patients since he was physically attacked.

The member of staff, who did not wish to be named, was punched in the chest by the assailant.

He said: "I always considered I had a pretty good radar for picking up when this sort of situation was developing.

"In nine years of pre-hospital care prior to this, I had not been subjected to physical assault. This incident brought home how, on the face of it, the person was extremely unlikely to become violent – but it shows it is not always your drunken, Saturday night individual who is liable to behave like this.

"Following the attack, I am more conscious of the dangers when I attend 999 calls as a solo responder. I have lost faith in my ability to judge situations and be aware of when they might suddenly become more difficult."

The number of attacks on ambulance staff in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and the former Avon area almost doubled in 2008/09 from 23 the previous year.

David Whiting, GWAS chief executive, said: "It is totally unacceptable for our staff to be subjected to assault – physical or verbal – in the course of their life-saving work.

"While 44 physical assaults out of more than 233,000 emergency responses our staff attended last year may be fairly low, it is still 44 too many.

"The experience of our paramedic who has spoken out today shows that it is not just the physical attack that is damaging – it has an ongoing effect on him, his colleagues and family and his confidence in continuing to provide the best care for his patients."

Mr Whiting said: "I am determined that anyone who does attack any member of my staff is subject to the full force of the law."

The number of assaults at NBT dropped by 29 from the previous year.

Spokesman Richard Cottle said: "Due to the specialities within our hospitals such as dementia and neurology, the vast majority of these were carried out by patients whose illness means they cannot help their actions.

"Out of the 221, only a very small number have been classified as 'intentional' attacks – deliberate or malicious attacks on staff by patients, visitors and members of the public."

UH Bristol spokeswoman Laura Treasure said: "Violence against our staff is unacceptable.

"The trust encourages staff to report assaults and supports action against offenders."

The number of assaults reported by AWP staff was considerably lower than last year, when 872 were recorded.

Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust spokesman Stephen Hombal said: "Safety of staff is paramount, which is why AWP employs a Local Security Management Specialist, trained and accredited by the NHS Security Management Service.

"They use data such as that released in today's report in order to look for trends and potential problems which can then be quickly addressed.

"This year has also seen the updating of two major policies – Lone Working and Policy for the Recognition, Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression – which aim to maintain and promote the systems the trust has in place to support and protect its staff and service users."