Hospital Worker Stabbed To Death At Acute Unit

Police are continuing to question a man after a female member of staff at a mental health hospital was stabbed to death at work.

Health care assistant Sharon Wall was attacked at the inpatient unit of Wotton Lawn Hospital in Gloucester.

Police said the 53-year-old woman, who lived in the town, was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital but died from her injuries an hour later.

The arrested man, aged 60, is being held on suspicion of murder and magistrates have granted detectives a further 36 hours to question him.

A spokesman for 2gether NHS Foundation Trust described the killing, at around 7.30am on Wednesday, as "tragic".

He said: "During the incident a colleague was stabbed and after being attended by fellow clinicians, was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

"It is with deep sadness that we confirm that our colleague died a short time later. Our thoughts remain with their family and friends at this extremely difficult time.

"The full facts of this sad incident are still being established and therefore it is inappropriate for us to comment further at this time."

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "The events in Gloucestershire are devastating and our thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of the staff member involved."

The 2gether website says Wotton Lawn Hospital is an 88 bed acute mental health hospital near the centre of Gloucester which provides inpatient services for the county of Gloucestershire.

The hospital has four admission wards, a nurse led psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) and a low secure unit (LSU).

It says service users are supported by a variety of healthcare workers including nurses, doctors, psychologists, art therapists, physiotherapists, occupational and sports exercise therapists.