VIOLENT and abusive patients could be banned from having treatment at Worcestershire hospitals - including Redditch's Alexandra Hospital.

Health chiefs have approved a plan to ban such patients from having treatment in hospitals across the county.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust gave the thumbs-up to the 'red card' system which bans patients who have been consistently or seriously violent or abusive to staff for a year.

However, the county's patients will still be treated in emergency situations even if a police presence is required.

Trust chairman Michael O'Riordan said the system was part of a zero tolerance policy the trust had towards violence and abuse.

He added: "We don't want staff to be subjected to violence or abuse and this is a way to deal with it."