Staff praised after patient 'went berserk' in Morriston Hospital A&E

PARTS of Morriston Hospital went into lock-down mode when a patient went berserk in A&E.

Nursing and security staff have been praised for their actions during a terrifying incident lasting around an hour.

The Post understands the 28-year-old had been brought to the hospital by police, but that they had to be called back to the building when he became distressed.

The man is believed to have dived through two panes of glass during the incident and seriously hurt himself.

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A spokeswoman for Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board said: "We can confirm a violent incident, lasting approximately one hour, took place at Morriston Hospital in the early hours of yesterday morning.

"Thanks to the quick thinking and courage of our nursing and security staff, patients and the public were kept safe."

She added: "Due to the serious nature of the incident it was necessary to lock some areas of the hospital, including wards and the emergency department, in order to contain the situation whilst it was ongoing."

She said the matter was being investigated by police and it would not be appropriate for the health board to comment further.

Christine Thomas, lead steward in Swansea for nursing union RCN, described the violent incident at the hospital as "the worst staff had experienced at Morriston".

"Our members do not go to work for this," she said.

"The RCN abhors violence of any kind — in particular involving our members in the workplace when they carry out their professional duties.

"It was a very, very serious incident and very traumatic for staff and patients.

"The whole of the multi- disciplinary team worked very well together.

"It is extremely fortunate that there weren't many more people injured."

Mrs Thomas added: "My heart goes out to the patients who were in A&E at the time."

In 2009 a memorandum of understanding was signed at Morriston A&E between Wales's four police forces and the then Welsh Government Health Minister Edwina Hart to ensure everything was done to bring to justice anyone being violent or aggressive towards NHS staff.

A South Wales Police spokesman said: "Police in Swansea are dealing with a serious incident which occurred at Morriston Hospital at about 4am on Tuesday, June 26, following which a 28-year-old-man is currently undergoing treatment."

richard.youle@swwmedia.co.uk