Nurse who was stabbed in hospital’s A&E division was ‘attacked by a affected person who bought indignant about having to attend’: Medic preventing for her life
A hospital nurse was fighting for her life tonight after being stabbed in a ‘senseless attack’ – allegedly by a patient who became ‘angry’ about having to wait.
The nurse, a woman in her 50s, was attacked while working in an accident and emergency unit – suffering ‘serious’ injuries which are believed to be ‘life-changing’, police said.
The ‘distressing and frightening’ attack happened at the Royal Oldham Hospital, Greater Manchester, with the assailant said to have used a ‘sharp instrument’ that wasn’t a knife, an officer said.
Greater Manchester Police said a 37-year-old man was ‘swiftly arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder’.
Labour MP Jim McMahon, who represents Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, said: ‘We are all shocked at the senseless attack on a nurse in the A&E department of the Royal Oldham Hospital.
‘Our thoughts are with the nurse, family and friends as we wish a full recovery.’
One nurse at the hospital claimed the attack happened after a patient became angry over the time they were waiting to be seen.
She said: ‘It’s terrible – there was a row with a patient. I think they became angry because they had to wait to be seen. It’s scary.’
Royal Oldham Hospital, Greater Manchester, where a nurse was stabbed in a ‘senseless attack’
The nurse, a woman in her 50s, was attacked while working in an accident and emergency unit
Speaking outside the hospital, another nurse said: ‘There was a row with a patient. It just got out of hand but it wasn’t a case of the patient going berserk.
‘It was just a disagreement that can happen late at night. It happens all the time but it’s shocking that the nurse was attacked.’
Local resident Mike Lawton, 58, who lives near the hospital, said: ‘It’s shocking. The nurses work such long hours and then something like this happens.’
The father-of-two added: ‘I hope she’s OK.’
The Royal Oldham Hospital said it was ‘shocked and saddened’ by the attack at around 11.30pm on Saturday.
The hospital also said its focus was on supporting the worker involved and their family, adding that all services remain open.
Heather Caudle, chief nursing officer at Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Royal Oldham, said last night: ‘We are incredibly shocked and saddened by last night’s incident and our focus is on supporting the colleague involved and their family.
‘Our thoughts are also with colleagues and patients who were there at the time of the incident and for whom this has been distressing and frightening.
‘We will continue to support Greater Manchester Police with their inquiries.. All services at The Royal Oldham Hospital remain open.’
Last night, Greater Manchester Police said the suspect remained in police custody.
The ‘distressing and frightening’ attack happened at the Royal Oldham Hospital (pictured)
Detective Sergeant Craig Roters said: ‘This is a serious incident which has left a woman in a critical condition.
‘Our thoughts are with her family and colleagues, and we will continue to support them throughout this investigation.’
Greater Manchester Police said there would be an ‘increased presence’ around the hospital while officers conduct their enquiries, and to offer ‘reassurance’.
It added: ‘Whilst this investigation is in the early stages, we are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with this incident, and we do not believe there to be a threat to the wider public.’
