Staff at the Royal Oldham Hospital have been left ‘incredibly shocked and saddened’ after a nurse was stabbed and left fighting for her life, bosses say.
The member of staff is said to have been attacked with a ‘sharp instrument’ that wasn’t a knife. It is understood to have occured on an A+E ward.
Police raced to the scene following the incident at around 11:30pm on Saturday. The victim, a woman in her 50s, is in a critical condition in hospital. She has suffered ‘serious’ injuries which are police say are ‘believed to be life-changing.’
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A 37 year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in custody for questioning. Police say an investigation is ‘in the early stages’ but that ‘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.’
The hospital has now spoken for the first time about the incident. In a statement, Heather Caudle, chief nursing officer at Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Royal Oldham, said: “We are incredibly shocked and saddened by last night’s incident and our focus is on supporting the colleague involved and their family.
Hospital bosses say staff and patients have been left ‘distressed and frightened’
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
“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.”
Jim McMahon, the MP for Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, has called the stabbing a “senseless attack” as he wished the nurse a full recovery.
He 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.”
Police at the hospital on Sunday
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Earlier, Detective Sergeant Craig Roters, from the Oldham division of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) 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.
“The local community can expect to see an increase in police presence whilst we carry out inquiries, but they are also there to offer reassurance and answer any questions you may have.
“We know that news of this nature will come as a shock, and if you have any concerns or anything you would like to share, please speak to them.”