AMA's Dr John Saul says NWRH doc had 'life-threatening injuries'

Dr John Saul said the person seriously injured in what Tasmania Police called a "wounding incident" at the North West Regional Hospital was a senior emergency department doctor.

Dr Saul said the victim was "assaulted with a knife" and left with "significant, life-threatening injuries".

"All staff performed exceptionally well to save this man's life in really difficult circumstances," Dr Saul said.

He said the AMA was providing support to all staff affected by the traumatic incident, and was assisting the Tasmanian Health Service to bolster its on-site support systems.

The doctor was airlifted to the Royal Hobart Hospital on Sunday night and a THS spokesperson said the patient was in a critical but stable condition.

Tasmania Police on Sunday night said investigations into the incident were ongoing, and that a youth had been taken into custody.

Dr Saul said he did not know the circumstances of this particular incident, but that violence and aggression are not uncommon in hospitals and emergency departments, and could be exacerbated by mental health issues and illicit substances.

He also said long wait times in an overburdened health system can add to patient aggression.

"Thankfully this is not a common event but assaults do happen," he said.

"Not just in emergency departments but in general practice too and particularly in mental health circumstances."

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Emily Shepherd, Tasmanian branch secretary of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Foundation, said she was "really concerned" by the incident, and that the collective thoughts of the ANMF were with the injured doctor.

She said the union had sought assurances from the Health department that NWRH staff were being adequately support.

Premier and health minister Jeremy Rockliff has been contacted for comment.

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