weekends since the start of the year to stop rowdies and uncontrollable patients, records show.

Action was required to stop "fights at the entrance'', "annoying people'' and one person reported as drunk and incapable.

Police spokesman Sgt. Andrea Browne said the 12 recorded disturbances occurred mostly on weekend nights.

The information was released following a Royal Gazette story on Friday revealing department staff besieged by violent and aggressive patients and their companions.

Doctors and hospital staff said the department has been plagued by fights among gangs, hostile patients and their companions.

In one instance, a knife-wielding patient was tackled and disarmed by a doctor and nurse while he chased after someone.

Staff said threats of physical violence are commonplace.

Dr. Carol Ferris of the emergency department said the 12 Police calls answered the most serious incidents. But the number is far below the dozens of incidents staff have faced in an increasing tendancy to beligerance and hostility among the people using the department.

"Most weekends there are one or two instances where somebody becomes uncooperative and walks around creating a disturbance.

"If you include the many minor instances where people have been abusive to us, there are dozens.'' Dr. Ferris said hospital staff will only call Police as a last resort. Much effort is made to calm uncooperative patients.

"We do our best to calm someone down who is causing a disturance. Very often that is sufficient. But it takes a lot of time sometimes and when the department it is distracting and time-consuming. When the department is full and people are needing treatment, you can't have someone rampaging around.'' Hospital officials said they are looking at ways to improve security at the department. But they have given no indication they will request Police protection on weekend and holiday nights when most disturbances occur.

Three years ago, a request for a "guaranteed Police presence'' was okayed by Police on condition that involved only off-duty officers paid by the hospital.

Lack of money prevented an arrangement being made.

Yesterday, Police Commissioner Mr. Lennett (Lennie) Edwards said in a statement that the Police were ready to help when called upon.

He said he was at the hospital in 1989 when a near riot erupted after the death of a pack-racer.

Following that incident the hospital asked for a Police presence. Mr. Edwards said Police did not provide an on-site officer then because of cutbacks in Force personnel.

"Now, there have been even more cutbacks,'' he said.