A man has been arrested following a violent disturbance inside the accident and emergency department at Royal Bolton Hospital on Friday afternoon.
Chaos erupts in waiting room
Greater Manchester Police were called to the scene shortly after 4.15pm on 2 January 2026. According to reports, a man who had been brought to the hospital by officers earlier began causing a disturbance.
The individual is alleged to have started shouting at other patients who were waiting to be seen by medical staff. The situation then escalated rapidly into physical violence.
Details of the alleged assault
It is reported that the man punched another male patient, knocking him to the ground. In a further shocking development, he is also alleged to have bitten someone else's ear during the altercation.
Police officers already at the location responded immediately to bring the situation under control. One man, aged in his 20s, was arrested at the scene.
Police statement and charges
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police provided a brief statement confirming the arrest. The man was detained on suspicion of section 18 assault, section 47 assault, assault of an emergency worker, and racially aggravated public order offences.
The force has not yet released specific details regarding the nature of any injuries sustained by the alleged victims. The investigation into the full circumstances surrounding the incident remains ongoing.
This event has raised serious concerns about safety and security within NHS emergency departments, particularly for vulnerable patients seeking urgent medical care.
