Guards slashed, nurse injured in attack at Westmead Hospital in Western Sydney

A 39-year-old man has been placed under police guard after allegedly slashing and assaulting staff at Sydney’s Westmead Hospital.

New South Wales police said two security guards, aged 25 and 24, were attacked at the hospital at 11.30pm on Friday, while a third guard suffered a dislocated shoulder.

“They were cut rather than stabbed and there wasn’t any penetration,” A police spokesperson said.

A 29-year-old male nurse also sustained minor injuries during the incident.

The four are “all fine” with minor injuries that were treated on-site and did not require hospitalisation, the spokesman said.

The man was arrested and remains under guard at the hospital.

He has not been charged and will be interviewed by police once he leaves the hospital.

Police will look at the man’s mental health and drug use history to see whether they contributed to the alleged attack, as investigations continue.

The “senseless violence” on hospital staff is horrifying, Health Services Union NSW secretary Gerard Hayes said.

“For the workers on the receiving end, the trauma will continue long after the physical scars have healed,” he said.

“For the last decade, we have had shootings, stabbings and flesh torn from the bodies of our members.”

The union said it will continue advocating for greater security numbers and powers at hospitals, and better personal protective equipment.

NSW minister Jo Haylen said the incident was a serious concern, and the government will continue working to protect those doing critical work at hospitals across the state.

“The safety of our health workforce including security guards at our hospitals is obviously front of mind for government and we are concerned for their welfare,” she told reporters on Saturday.

“It is absolutely important that people are safe at work.”