Staff at Kingston Hospital have been given anti-terrorism training to help prevent people being seduced by radical groups.

The training was given to a test group as part of a government strategy called Contest, created to protect the country from international terrorism.

The training could be extended to more staff in the next financial year.

A terrorism policy is being developed by the trust, according to a report submitted to July’s board meeting.

Home Secretary Theresa May wrote in a report on the Prevent scheme: “Osama bin Laden may be dead, but the threat from Al-Qaeda inspired terrorism is not.

"We will prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure they are given appropriate advice.”

Kingston Hospital said four staff members had received the training, provided free by the Department of Health.

There is a national requirement for hospitals to teach staff how to identify a colleague who is involved, or at risk of becoming involved, in terrorist activities.