A hospital security guard who was attacked by a patient wielding an oxygen cylinder was failed by her employer and the Waikato DHB, the union says. The female guard was seriously injured in the early morning assault at a surgical ward at Waikato Hospital. “She’s suffered severely, with multiple injuries to her head, face and body, and will require multiple surgeries,” E tū Waikato senior organiser Iriaka Rauhihi said in a statement. “It’ll be a long road to recovery and we’re lucky we’re not dealing with a fatality.” Rauhihi, who has visited the guard in hospital, says the woman’s family is horrified by what’s happened to her. The guard is employed by DHB security contractor, Allied Security.