A medical union says violence against hospital staff is out of control, due to drug and alcohol use.

DHB figures show hundreds of violent incidents where staff have been stabbed, kicked in the jaw, or suffered broken bones.

New Zealand Resident Doctors' Association national secretary Dr Deborah Powell told Mike Hosking most incidents are fuelled by drugs and alcohol, but that doesn't make it okay.

"When they basically describe what they'd like to do to you sexually, when they're threatening you, that they've got a gun at home and they are going to bring it in, that verbal abuse, that is way over the line."

She says there needs to be better security regulations.

"We need to say 'you're drunk, don't come to hospital unless you're a patient, and if you are a patient, you'll have a security guard with you."