A Sydney hospital patient accused of slashing a nurse several times with two knives he found on the ward has been charged. The man is due to face court after being charged with wounding the nurse, who was caring for him in Blacktown Hospital on Monday night. The Whalan man, 47, allegedly armed himself began behaving erratically about 10pm on Monday, walking into patients’ rooms and taking photos with his mobile phone. The Health Services Union said the “sickening” attack highlights the need for specialist security guards. “Hospital staff go to work each day to care for the public and yet they are being treated as punching bags,” HSU NSW secretary Gerard Hayes said. The union has pushed for 250 extra hospital security officers with “constable powers” since a police officer and a security guard were shot at Nepean Hospital in 2016. “But all we get is talk,” Mr Hayes said.
