A NURSE who was stabbed while working on a ward was reportedly attacked by a patient angry about wait times.
A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after the hospital worker was ambushed on Saturday evening and left in critical condition.
The woman was stabbed at The Royal Oldham Hospital in Greater Manchester at around 11:30pm on Saturday.
It was initially reported she was stabbed in A&E but a spokesperson from the Northern Care Alliance has since confirmed it was at the Acute Medical Unit (AMU).
She was reportedly wounded with a sharp instrument – that wasn’t a knife – by a member of the public.
The nurse, in her fifties, is being treated for “serious” injuries, believed to be “life-changing”.
One nurse from the hospital said: “It’s terrible – there was a row with a patient.
She claimed: “I think they became angry because they had to wait to be seen. It’s scary.”
A 37-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder, Greater Manchester Police said.
The suspect remains in custody for questioning, whilst an investigation is ongoing.
Officers also confirmed they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the attack.
Greater Manchester Police said: “It’s believed that a member of the public attacked a member of staff at Royal Oldham Hospital.
“The victim, a woman in her 50s, suffered serious injuries and remains in hospital for treatment.
“Her injuries are believed to be life changing.
“Our thoughts are with her family and colleagues, and we will continue to support them throughout this investigation.
“The local community can expect to see an increase in police presence whilst we carry out enquiries, but they are also there to offer reassurance and answer any questions you may have.”
Speaking from outside the hospital, another nurse reportedly claimed: “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.”
The chief nursing officer at Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust said staff were “incredibly shocked” by the stabbing of a colleague at Royal Oldham.
“We are incredibly shocked and saddened by last night’s incident and our focus is on supporting the colleague involved and their family,” Heather Caudle said on Sunday.
“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.”
The MP for Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton meanwhile, dubbed the incident a “senseless attack” and wished the nurse a full recovery.
Jim McMahon, who is also a local government minister, wrote on Facebook: “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.”
Consultant psychiatrist Raja Ahmed called for more safety measures for NHS staff.
He said: “Frontline healthcare workers must be protected and this should never happen.”
Residents voiced concerns about the lack of security on the A&E unit.
Danny Hanson said: “That hospital is severely under-staffed, security is practically non-existent.
“It’s horrible how a nurse goes to work and ends up with life-changing injuries. Hope she makes a speedy recovery.”
Tributes for the hero nurse have since poured in online, with one local describing how she and her dad had been at the hospital at the time.
“The staff are absolutely amazing trying so hard to help people,” she wrote on Facebook.
“They work really unsociable hours and this is the s**t they have to put up with. Sending love and support to this amazing lady and all the NHS staff thank you for always being there.”
Another said: “This is heartbreaking, the nurses are so hard working doing what they can for all of us, I pray she will come through this terrible attack.”
Shockingly, The Royal College of Nursing says being spat at, hit and punched by patients and their families is the reality of working life for many nurses.
Last year, professor Nicola Ranger, chief nurse at the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said: “Nobody should feel threatened at work – and ministers must tackle the abuse of nurses as a priority.”
Reform UK posted on X: “Not even our hospitals are safe places now. Labour have utterly failed.”
In August, Health Secretary Wes Streeting condemned the behaviour and said those who are abusive “can and should” be turned away from care.
The government is currently trialling bodyworn cameras for staff in some hospital trusts across the UK in a bid to tackle anti-social behaviour.
It comes after shocking stats revealed 13.7 per cent of NHS staff surveyed experienced at least one incident of physical violence from patients and members of the public in 2023.
