Seven News can reveal extraordinary numbers of hospital security guards are being attacked on the job, leaving many too injured to return to work.

Those in charge of keeping our hospitals safe say that they're the ones in need of protection from violent patients.

Guards have admitted to Seven News that they’ve been spat at, punched, kicked and threatened.

Glen Dansie says he's been stabbed in the head with a pencil.

"It didn't penetrate through to me skull but I had some head wounds," Dansie says.

A survey of hospital guards found all had been threatened verbally, and nearly 98 percent had been spat at or assaulted.

Whilst and 92 percent threatened with a weapon and 76 percent needed medical treatment or needed extensive time off work.

Gerard Hayes from the Health Services Union says that guards are suffering the consequences of keeping visitors and staff safe.

Doctors agree that hospitals are now more violent.

Professor Brian Owler from the Australian Medical Association says the type of drugs people are using and the frequency is becoming a real issue for emergency departments.

Guards are paid around $22 an hour and they’re not seeking more money, but they are calling on the Government to give them more power.

They are legally prohibited from grabbing anyone who is attacking them.