SOMEONE who attacks a doctor, nurse or paramedic has “almost a 100 per chance chance of getting away with it,” opposition politicians have suggested.

New figures show only 1.5 per cent of attacks on NHS workers resulted in a conviction in 2017 to 2018.

Data shows there were 2,922 physical attacks on doctors, nurses and paramedics working for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde last year - the highest of any Scottish boards, and 12,759 across the whole country.

Over 2017-2018, 190 people were convicted under the new Emergency Service Workers act, the lowest number in six years according to the Scottish Conservatives.

The legislation doubled the maximum sentence from six to 12 months in prison for assaulting an emergency worker. It covers doctors, nurses and paramedics as well as police, prison officers, custody officers, fire service personnel, search and rescue services and paramedics.

However, the act does not include domestics, nurse assistants, catering workers, clerical workers, GP staff or anyone in social care - which was highlighted by Unison in its submission during the consultation process.

Unison said the latest figures, obtained by the Conservatives under freedom of information laws, were evidence that the act was not protecting a wide enough cross section of NHS workers.

Miles Briggs, of the Scottish Conservatives, said: “The fact just 1.5 per cent of physical assaults result in a conviction is a real insult to our brave healthcare workers.”