AGGRESSIVE beggars are targeting nurses, doctors and medical staff returning home late at night from Southampton General Hospital.

One frightened female staff member was grabbed when a couple launched a barrage of verbal abuse in a spate of attacks by people lurking in the car park after dark demanding money.

Now police are stepping up late-night patrols in and around the Tremona Road complex as they launch an operation to hunt down the culprits.

It comes as hospital bosses urge staff remain vigilant while making their way back to their cars in the evenings and the early hours.

Now colleagues and health groups and have branded the attackers actions as “totally unacceptable” and “cowardly”, and urge officers to do all they can to ensure staff are protected.

Police are investigating five incidents where staff have been targeted in and around a car park at the rear of the hospital in just a week.

One female staff member had got into her vehicle when a man and a woman approached asking for money and verbally abusing her.

Officers say the pair grabbed the worker but she managed to drive away unharmed without given them cash.

The other incidents involve people asking for money while the staff were approaching their cars and hurling abuse at them.

No-one was injured.

Hospital bosses have circulated warning messages to departments in the wake of the incidents.

Dr Sohaib Rufai, a general surgeon and the hospital’s doctors’ mess president, said: “This is totally unacceptable. Hospital staff are working to care for people and people like this are putting our safety at risk.”

Another member of staff, too scared to give her name, said: "It’s sad this is happening to people doing their jobs.

“That car park is very dark and it’s scary when you come out of work late.”

She said some women are being recommended to go to their cars in pairs, but added: “It’s difficult for people in departments where they work alone or finish late.”

Harry Dymond, chairman of Healthwatch Southampton, said: “It’s very cowardly to attack those that are working to help other people. The staff need to be careful but something needs to be done to increase security.”

A spokesman for University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust said extra security patrols have been launched and added: “We have advised staff to remain vigilant, not to open car windows if approached, to apply central locking once they have entered their vehicles and to report anything suspicious immediately, and to dial 999 if an incident is in progress.”

He urged staff involved who have yet to report incidents to report them immediately.

A spokeswoman for Hampshire Constabulary said: “We are continuing to investigate these incidents and we have increased our patrols in the area reassure and safeguard hospital staff.”

Anyone who is approached or witnesses suspicious activity should call police on 101 quoting reference 44160027988 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.