Nurse who was stabbed in hospital’s A&E department was ‘attacked by a patient who got angry about having to wait’: Medic fighting for her life
A hospital nurse was fighting for her life this evening after being stabbed in a ‘senseless attack’ – allegedly by a patient who became ‘angry’ at being kept waiting.
The nurse, a woman in her 50s, was attacked while working in an emergency department. She suffered “serious” injuries that are believed to be “life-changing,” police said.
The ‘disturbing and frightening’ attack took place at Royal Oldham Hospital, Greater Manchester, in which the attacker is said to have used a ‘sharp instrument’ that was not a knife, an officer said.
Greater Manchester Police said a 37-year-old man was ‘quickly arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder’.
Labor MP Jim McMahon, who represents Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, said: “We are all shocked by the senseless attack on a nurse in the emergency department at Royal Oldham Hospital.
‘Our thoughts are with the nurse, family and friends, we wish a full recovery.’
One nurse at the hospital claimed the attack happened after a patient became angry during the time he was waiting to be seen.
She said: ‘It’s terrible – there was an argument with a patient. I think they got 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 emergency department
Another nurse said outside the hospital: ‘There was an argument with a patient. Things just got out of hand, but it wasn’t like the patient went 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 doing well.”
Professor Nicola Ranger, Secretary General and Chief Executive of the RCN, said: ‘This attack on a nurse is truly shocking and our thoughts are with the victim, her family and colleagues.
‘Nurses go to work to care for others and have every right to do so without fear of violence. All employers have a duty to protect their staff and authorities must ensure that those who put healthcare professionals at risk face the full force of the law.”
The Royal Oldham Hospital said it was ‘shocked and saddened’ by the attack at around 11.30pm on Saturday.
The hospital also said it was focusing on supporting the affected worker and his family, adding that all services remain open.
Heather Caudle, head of nursing 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.
The ‘disturbing and frightening’ attack took place at Royal Oldham Hospital (pictured)
‘Our thoughts also go out to colleagues and patients who were there at the time of the incident and for whom this has been painful and frightening.
‘We will continue to support Greater Manchester Police with their investigations. All services at Royal Oldham Hospital remain open.”
On Sunday evening, the Royal College of Nursing condemned the attack on the Oldham nurse as ‘truly shocking’.
Professor Nicola Ranger, Secretary General and Chief Executive of the RCN, said: ‘This attack on a nurse is truly shocking and our thoughts are with the victim, her family and colleagues.
‘Nurses go to work to care for others and have every right to do so without fear of violence. All employers have a duty to protect their staff and authorities must ensure that those who put healthcare professionals at risk face the full force of the law.”
Greater Manchester Police said the suspect was in police custody.
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 as officers carry out their investigations and provide ‘reassurance’.
It added: ‘Although this investigation is in its early stages, we are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with this incident, and we do not believe there is a threat to the wider public.’