A 42-year-old patient has been arrested after assaulting a nurse in a mental health unit in a Christchurch hospital today.
The nurse was assaulted while working in the adult mental health inpatient unit at Hilmorton Hospital just after 12.30pm, a Canterbury DHB spokesperson confirmed to 1 NEWS.
It comes after another nurse at the same hospital was left with second-degree burns earlier this week when a patient threw boiling water on her while she was working in a High Care Area in the Adult Acute Inpatient Unit.
She was rushed to the Emergency Department with serious burns following the incident.
Canterbury DHB CEO David Meates said: "We are doing all we can to ensure this nurse is well supported in their recovery.
"Whenever there is a serious incident such as this, a review will be carried out to understand what happened and what can be done to reduce the chance of a recurrence. That process is underway".
Mr Meates is expected to meet with Hillmorton nursing staff tomorrow, where they will discuss "a number of things, including the level of assaults in the unit".
"No level of violence towards staff, patients, or anyone else is acceptable," he said.
The man has been charged with intent to injure.
He will appear in Christchurch District Court tomorrow.
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