A TOP hospital boss has praised staff on a ward where a patient was allegedly attacked with a fire extinguisher.

David Wakefield, the chairman of Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, told the hospital board that he had visited the surgical ward where the “unfortunate incident” happened and spoken to the staff.

Mr Wakefield even told the directors that if he was a patient at the hospital, he would want to be treated on that ward.

His comments follow an incident that happened on Monday, May 27, in ward E3 at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

The trust has opened an internal investigation into the incident and hospital bosses have been liasing with the injured man’s family.

On Thursday, Mr Wakefield told the board that staff morale on the ward was very low after the incident, but he praised the staff and said their achievements were “astronomical”.

Mr Wakefield said that in the last 29 days, the ward had not had any falls, pressure ulcers or cases of the superbugs MRSA or C Difficile.

He also said staff satisfaction levels from the recent survey were at 97 per cent, patient experience was at 93 per cent, and mandatory training levels were high.

“It has been a horrible event for everybody down there and it reflects badly on us.

“I would encourage everybody to go down and meet the staff and talk to the patients.

“It is a terrific ward, it really is,” he added.

* A man has been charged in connection with the alleged attack.

Anthony Dyer, aged 53, of Crossdale Road, Breightmet, is charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent to 81-year-old Mohammed Aslam, as well as two counts of common assault against other people.

The charges relate to an incident at the Royal Bolton Hospital on Sunday, May 26, in which Mr Aslam was hit with a fire extinguisher.

Dyer appeared at Bolton Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, and he was remanded in custody until June 21, when he will appear at Bolton Crown Court.