RACIAL abuse against hospital workers in Glasgow is among the worst in the country, new figures have revealed.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde reported the highest number of racist incidents, with 76 in 2012/13.

The figures show ­racial abuse against NHS staff across the UK has risen by 65% in just four years.

A NHS GGC spokeswoman said: "NHSGGC has strict zero tolerance towards violence against our staff who are entitled to work free of threats, assaults, ­intimidation or abuse.

"We have introduced a number of policies over the last five years including our violence and aggression policy, gender-based violence policy, dignity at work policy and our stalking policy resulting in an increase in the number of staff now reporting abuse towards them.

"We take very seriously any act of physical or verbal abuse against our staff.

"We fully encourage staff in taking the perpetrators of either physical or verbal abuse against them through the justice system.

"Our staff deserve ­basic courtesy and ­respect and to be able to work without fear of intimidation, abuse or violence."

There were 694 racist incidents reported against NHS staff across the UK during 2012/13, according to new data.

This compares to 420 physical or verbal assaults on staff in 2008/09.

Dean Royles, chief ­executive of the NHS Employers organisation, said: "The fact that staff get racially abused should appal every right-minded person.

"With rising levels of violence against staff in the NHS, it's shocking that staff can also be subject to racial abuse.

"The NHS workforce is probably one of the most diverse in the country."