A man armed with two knives has been shot by police at a Sydney hospital after allegedly trying to stab an officer.
The 54-year-old was shot at Nepean Hospital just before 4pm on Thursday following allegations he'd earlier threatened security guards at the facility, NSW Police said.
According to Health Minister Brad Hazzard, the man was rushed into surgery at the hospital. Police said on Thursday evening he was in a stable condition.
The man reportedly made bomb threats during the incident, with police confirming specialist officers attended the scene to investigate.
Nepean Hospital was placed in lock down. Source: AAP
Ambulances were diverted and emergency patients asked to attend other hospitals, according to a statement from Nepean Hospital circulated to staff.
Health Services Union secretary Gerard Hayes described the incident as "extremely disturbing".
"Without pre-judging the situation, hospital security generally is at crisis point, the time for talk has been and gone," he said in a statement.
He called for more security officers with special constable powers in NSW hospitals immediately.
A police officer almost lost his life in early 2016 after being shot twice in the leg while struggling with a drug-affected patient at the same hospital.
Sergeant Luke Warburton was the first officer to arrive at Nepean's emergency ward more than two years ago after a 39-year-old man allegedly held a pair of scissors to the throat of a female doctor.
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