A WOMAN patient was questioned by police yesterday after a nurse had her wrist broken in an early morning incident in a hospital casualty department.

Violence flared as the patient was about to leave the accident and emergency unit at Bishop Auckland General Hospital where she had earlier arrived by ambulance.

Another member of staff was hurt trying to protect the nurse, who has not been named.

Hospital bosses said that the nurse had been subjected to an unprovoked attack.

A spokeswoman said: "The woman had been treated and was waiting for a lift home. Another person had arrived to pick her up and the nurse had gone to let him in.

"The attack came out of the blue. Fortunately, incidents as severe as this are rare."

The hospital has installed a number of security measures to protect staff in the accident and emergency department where minor assaults are usually linked to patients who have been drinking.

Doors are kept locked after 10.30pm, and shutters block access to other parts of the building.

Security cameras cover the department, the reception desk is screened, and nurses can press a panic button in case of difficulty.

John Saxby, chief executive of South Durham Health Care NHS Trust, said: "The safety of our staff is our first consideration.

"Violence of this type will not be tolerated."

Detectives who interviewed the woman patient, who is in her 20s, released her on bail yesterday afternoon while they continue their investigation.