A NSW hospital worker had “flesh torn from his body” and four others were injured in an alleged incident involving a violent patient, a union says.The “bloody violent attack” angered the Health Services Union and prompted state secretary Gerard Hayes to call for safer working conditions for hospital staff. Mr Hayes said the incident occurred last Saturday at 4am after police officers dropped off a handcuffed man to the emergency department. The man left the hospital and was brought back by police and placed in a mental health room under the supervision of a hospital security assistant.

The man allegedly became violent and attempted to leave, causing the assistant to call for backup. A violent struggle ensued in which five security staff were injured, Mr Hayes said. According to the union’s account of the alleged incident, one staffer was bitten on the shoulder so badly some “flesh was torn”. Another one was slammed to the ground and suffered a concussion, while a third person broke five ribs and tore cartilage. Two other people were also treated, one for a suspected broken arm and the other for bruises and cuts.