Staff 'incredibly shocked' after nurse stabbed at hospital left fighting for life

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.'

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.

"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