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| Nurse critically injured in stabbing at Greater Manchester hospital | |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Man arrested at scene and held on suspicion of attempted murder over attack at Royal Oldham hospital | Man arrested at scene and held on suspicion of attempted murder over attack at Royal Oldham hospital |
| A nurse is in a critical condition after she was stabbed in a hospital’s acute medical unit in a suspected attempted murder, police said. | |
| The nurse was on duty at the Royal Oldham hospital, in Greater Manchester, when she was attacked with a sharp instrument at about 11.30pm on Saturday night. | The nurse was on duty at the Royal Oldham hospital, in Greater Manchester, when she was attacked with a sharp instrument at about 11.30pm on Saturday night. |
| Greater Manchester police (GMP) said the woman, in her 50s, was being treated for life-changing injuries. | Greater Manchester police (GMP) said the woman, in her 50s, was being treated for life-changing injuries. |
| A 37-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder and remained in police custody, the force said. | A 37-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder and remained in police custody, the force said. |
| GMP said it did not believe there was a threat to the wider public and that it was not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident. Detectives have launched a major investigation into the attack and its potential motive. | GMP said it did not believe there was a threat to the wider public and that it was not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident. Detectives have launched a major investigation into the attack and its potential motive. |
| It is understood the nurse was set upon with a sharp instrument – not a knife – in the busy unit of the hospital, eight miles north-east of Manchester. | |
| DS Craig Roters, from GMP’s Oldham district, 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. | DS Craig Roters, from GMP’s Oldham district, 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.” | “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.” |
| Heather Caudle, the chief nursing officer at Northern Care Alliance NHS foundation trust, which oversees the Royal Oldham hospital, said staff were “incredibly shocked and saddened” by the incident. | Heather Caudle, the chief nursing officer at Northern Care Alliance NHS foundation trust, which oversees the Royal Oldham hospital, said staff were “incredibly shocked and saddened” by the incident. |
| “Our focus is on supporting the colleague involved and their family,” she said. “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. | “Our focus is on supporting the colleague involved and their family,” she said. “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.” | “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, said he wished the nurse a full recovery after the “senseless attack”. | Jim McMahon, the MP for Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, said he wished the nurse a full recovery after the “senseless attack”. |
| “We are all shocked at the senseless attack on a nurse in the Royal Oldham hospital,” he said. “Our thoughts are with the nurse, family and friends as we wish a full recovery.” | |
| Nursing leaders have raised the alarm about a growing level of abuse faced by NHS staff. An NHS staff survey in 2023 found that 13.7% of employees had experienced at least one incident of physical violence in the past year. Among ambulance staff, this figure rose to 27.6%. | Nursing leaders have raised the alarm about a growing level of abuse faced by NHS staff. An NHS staff survey in 2023 found that 13.7% of employees had experienced at least one incident of physical violence in the past year. Among ambulance staff, this figure rose to 27.6%. |
| Although there are no annual figures on the abuse of frontline health workers in England, research suggests the number of incidents has been growing for nearly a decade. | Although there are no annual figures on the abuse of frontline health workers in England, research suggests the number of incidents has been growing for nearly a decade. |
| Unison, the UK’s biggest health union, found in 2018 that the number of reported physical assaults on NHS hospital staff had risen to 56,000 in 2016-17, a 6% jump compared with the previous year. | Unison, the UK’s biggest health union, found in 2018 that the number of reported physical assaults on NHS hospital staff had risen to 56,000 in 2016-17, a 6% jump compared with the previous year. |
| However, the true figure is believed to be significantly higher as only three-quarters of NHS Trusts responded to freedom of information requests by Health Service Journal and Unison. | However, the true figure is believed to be significantly higher as only three-quarters of NHS Trusts responded to freedom of information requests by Health Service Journal and Unison. |
| The estimated true figure equates to an average of just over 200 reported physical assaults on NHS staff every day. | The estimated true figure equates to an average of just over 200 reported physical assaults on NHS staff every day. |
| Last year, the Guardian reported on a rising number of violent incidents at the Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC) hospital in Nottingham. In the six months between April and September 2023, a total of 1,167 incidents were recorded at the NHS trust that runs QMC and its sister City hospital – almost the same as it recorded in the full 12 months of 2021-22 (1,237). | Last year, the Guardian reported on a rising number of violent incidents at the Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC) hospital in Nottingham. In the six months between April and September 2023, a total of 1,167 incidents were recorded at the NHS trust that runs QMC and its sister City hospital – almost the same as it recorded in the full 12 months of 2021-22 (1,237). |