A MAN has been charged after a nurse was stabbed in the neck at Royal Perth Hospital.
The nurse was attacked from behind and stabbed with a makeshift weapon as she talked to a patient.
Staff said the attack had come ‘almost out of the blue’ at around 1.30am on Sunday.
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Police confirmed the 55-year-old nurse had received injuries consistent with a stab wound.
She was released from hospital after treatment yesterday and is recovering at home with her family.
Speaking to media, Health Minister Roger Cook said he visited staff at Royal Perth Hospital after the attack.
“Everyone is shaken and disturbed,” he said.
“No attack on a member of our staff providing care for our patients is acceptable.”
The patient had been in hospital for 12 hours, through ED and to the acute surgical ward.
Staff indicated that the attack had come ‘almost out of the blue’.
“This took place in a hospital ward where you shouldn’t see his escalation of violence take place,” Mr Cook said.
“What we need to understand better is the circumstances that led up to this incident.”
He was told the patient had a weapon that was fashioned from a blade.
“We don’t know where the blade came from,” he added
“We will do more. This situation is appalling and as minister for health I won’t stand for it.”
A 30-year-old man from Gnowangerup has been charged with assaulting a public officer and one count of possessing a controlled weapon in a manner likely to cause someone to be injured.
He is next due to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on Monday May 27.