The NHS will refuse treatment to racist, sexist and violent patients, amid warnings that rising numbers of staff are facing “appalling” abuse.

From April, any patient or hospital visitor found to be inflicting discriminatory or harassing behaviour on staff could be barred from receiving care, unless the case is an emergency.

Previously, patients could only be refused help if they were aggressive or violent.

It comes as new figures show the percentage of staff who say they have experienced discrimination has risen by a quarter in five years, from 5.8 per cent to 7.2 per cent.

Racism was the most common form of discrimination, but the new figures also show the highest levels of reported sexism and intolerance of religion and sexuality.

Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, said the situation was “appalling”, pledging to do more to protect NHS workers.

Sir Simon Stevens, head of the NHS, said the health service was “determined to clamp down on abuse and aggression in all its forms”.

The survey of more than 569,000 staff found almost 40,000 workers had personally experienced discrimination at work from patients, relatives and other members of the public.

Even more said they had suffered discrimination at the hands of managers or colleagues.

Among those who suffered discrimination, almost half said it was linked to their ethnic background, with more than one in five saying it was a result of their gender.

And five per cent of those polled said they had suffered abuse because of their sexual orientation.

In total, 28.5 per cent said they had experienced harassment, bullying or abuse from patients, relatives or members of the public, with 15 per cent experiencing physical violence.

The proportion saying they had suffered any type of discrimination on the basis of ethnic background rose sharply over the five years, from 38.7 per cent to 45.5 per cent.

However, overall staff morale saw a rise over the same period, with almost 75 percent of staff saying they were enthusiastic about their work, and 71 percent saying they would be happy for relatives to be treated by their employer, if they needed treatment.

The poll surveys staff working at NHS hospitals, as well as ambulance and community services.

Sir Simon said: “While teams across the country are under real pressure, NHS staff consistently go the extra mile for patients. So as a country we need to show the same commitment to them, which is why we are determined to clamp down on abuse and aggression in all its forms.”

From April, under new rules NHS services will be able to bar anyone inflicting discriminatory or harassing behaviour on staff from non-emergency care.

The Health Secretary today wrote to all NHS staff, promising to do more to prevent abuse and support victims of attacks.

In the letter, he urges workers urged to report all incidents, saying no act of abuse or violence should be considered minor, and says “being assaulted or abused is not part of the job”.

Following legislation in 2018, jail terms for those who assault NHS staff have been doubled, alongside changes which attempt to make it easier to investigate and prosecute assaults.

In the letter, Matt Hancock said it was “appalling” that so many staff – including 34 per cent of ambulance workers – had experienced assaults in the last year.

He wrote: “There is far too much violence against NHS staff, and too much acceptance that it’s part of the job. Far too often I hear stories that the people you are trying to help lash out. I’ve seen it for myself in A&Es, on night shifts, and on ambulances. I am horrified that any member of the public would abuse or physically assault a member of our NHS staff but it happens too often.”

All assault and hate crimes against NHS staff must be investigated with care, compassion, diligence and commitment, he said.

“We will not tolerate assaults – physical or verbal – against NHS colleagues, staff or volunteers. You should not tolerate violence or abuse either. Being assaulted or abused is not part of your job,” he wrote.