Martin Wiles of the NHS Security Management Service (NHS SMS), said: "These new provisions reinforce the range of measures already in place to protect NHS staff, allowing them to concentrate on delivering patient care. The legislation will help prevent low level disruptive behaviour from escalating to violence against staff by focusing on the minority of people who cause a nuisance in hospital premises."

Nuisance or disturbance behaviour against NHS staff includes any form of low-level anti-social behaviour on NHS premises: for example foul language and verbal abuse, intimidating gestures, excessive noise in waiting areas or wards and the obstruction of thoroughfares.

The offence and power of removal will apply only to NHS hospital premises. Physical removal must be the last resort and not a substitute for established verbal conflict resolution techniques to persuade a disruptive individual to leave voluntarily.

Those seeking medical advice, treatment or care are exempt. There are also important safeguards to ensure an individual, especially a vulnerable individual, is not placed in danger by being removed.

The NHS Security Management Service (NHS SMS) will deliver free training courses for authorised officers and other staff, including security officers, whom they can authorise to remove people where necessary. The training will make clear the legal rights of an individual being removed as well as those of staff involved.