Two hospital workers have been injured in a ‘distressing incident’ in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The staff were hurt at Daisy Hill in Newry, Co Down. The PSNI confirmed that a "nurse suffered a cut to her neck/chin area and a health care assistant sustained a puncture wound to his side".
The Southern Trust said: “We can confirm that two members of staff were injured in an incident in Daisy Hill Hospital this morning. Both were taken to the Emergency Department for assessment and treatment.
“Thankfully neither staff sustained life threatening injuries as a result of this distressing incident. One member of staff remains in the Emergency Department as a precaution.”
In a tweet, Health Minister Robin Swann reacted to the "appalling and distressing incident", adding "Wishing staff members a full and quick recovery".
SDLP MLA in Newry and Armagh Justin McNulty described the incident as “disturbing”.
He added: “My thoughts are with the injured staff and I pray they can make a full recovery. God bless them. It’s pretty sad and scary to think that staff on the front line who have courageously held the fort throughout the pandemic can have their lives put at risk in this horrifically violent way.
“I have contacted Police and the Chief Executive of the Southern Trust. Action must be taken so that all Emergency Department teams who are bravely saving lives every day can feel safe and secure doing their jobs.”
The PSNI later confirmed that a 57-year-old man "has been arrested following an incident at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry at approximately 5.40am this morning, Saturday May 15th".
