Statistics released by NHS England show staff were subjected to 430 attacks committed by just five people in the 2013-2014 financial year.

There were 797 physical assaults in total reported to Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust — which includes Prospect House and Prospect Park Hospital in Tilehurst — the highest in the county and 268 more than in 2012/13.

Julian Emms, the trust’s chief executive, said: “The increase in physical assaults for 2013/14 has mainly come from one of our units which specialises in providing care to people with very challenging behavioural disturbances.

“We have been working with staff on this unit to improve reporting on these instances so that we have a much clearer picture of the challenges our staff face.

“Because of the better reporting, we know a small number of patients have carried out the majority of these assaults. Fifty-four per cent of physical assaults were carried out by five patients.

“This service comes under our mental health service, a service which nationally records higher assaults than any other type of service.

“The vast majority of these assaults were at the lower end of severity and not deemed criminal acts.

“Where a crime has been committed, we report these to the police.”

Neighbouring trusts fared better by comparison, with 36 reports at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 41 at Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 65 at the South Central Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust and 170 at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust — which includes the John Radcliffe Hospital.

The Royal Berkshire Foundation Trust saw a less significant rise, but still higher than respective neighbours, with 188 reported physical assaults in 2013/14 compared to 126 in the previous 12 months. Hospital spokesman Joe Wise was not surprised by the rise and told The Chronicle: “We actively promote staff to report any incidents.”