According to freedom of information figures, over 13,200 physical attacks were also reported in 2020 and 2021.
Of all the assaults last year, about half of the victims were nurses.
Phil Ni Sheaghdha from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, says the attacks vary significantly:
"There are verbal assaults, going to threats, going to physical assaults rendering them out of work. Right across the board. It's not confined to general hospitals. We have incidences growing, for example in pediatric hospitals, which is very worrying. And we also have the ongoing issue of overcrowded hospitals leading to a very frustrated general public."
