A patient who allegedly bit two security guards during a confrontation at a Sydney hospital has died after being handcuffed and put on a stretcher by police.
Officers were called to Prince of Wales at Randwick about 6.30pm on Monday and found security and paramedics restraining a 33-year-old man while medical staff tried to treat him.
The man had told staff about suffering hallucinations about 6pm but left before being admitted. He returned some 20 minutes later when the confrontation occurred, police said.
Assistant Commissioner Michael Willing said attempts were made by security and medical staff to restrain the man before police arrived.
After "a number of minutes" the man was secured by about 6.40pm, Mr Willing added.
"It was then shortly afterwards, that medical personnel realised the man was unresponsive," Mr Willing told reporters in Sydney on Tuesday.
Despite efforts to resuscitate the 33-year-old, he was pronounced dead about 7.20pm.
Health Services Union NSW secretary Gerard Hayes said the two security officers suffered leg and soft tissue injuries after being bitten by the man.
"Going to your workplace, coming home with bite marks, coming home with physical injuries, I don't think it's acceptable in any other workplace in this country," Mr Hayes told reporters.
"There were other potential patients and visitors in the waiting room at the time - you can only imagine the calamity and fear other people would have had."
Mr Hayes said it was another example of violence experienced by hospital employees and called for extra staff and training to help prevent incidents.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the government had done a lot of work around hospital security, pointing to an ongoing review by former health minister Peter Anderson into the safety of staff, patients and visitors at public hospitals.
Mr Anderson in February handed down an interim report with several recommendations but has requested more time to look at regional and rural issues.
"If there's anything more we need to do, we will," Ms Berejiklian told reporters.
"Our staff are important to us. Their safety is critical to us in the health system and of course, patient safety is absolutely critical."
A critical incident investigation has been launched and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
Australian Associated Press
