Staff member of Winnipeg's Seven Oaks General Hospital victim of serious assault

A staff member at Seven Oaks General Hospital was seriously assaulted inside the building Wednesday afternoon, leaving the person in serious condition, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority says.

"Our staff and leadership are devastated by this incident and our hearts and healing thoughts are with the victim and their family, as well as with all employees and patients at Seven Oaks," Paul Turenne, a spokesperson for the WRHA, said in an email.

"The safety of our staff and patients is top of mind and additional security has been called in to ensure the hospital is safe and secure."

Officers were called to the hospital at about 2:30 p.m., Winnipeg police said. Officers were still on scene into Wednesday evening.

The hospital's main Leila Avenue entrance is closed and will remain so for the remainder of the day, Turenne said, adding that the assault took place in the atrium at that entrance.

The urgent care centre and its usual entrance remain open to the public. Dialysis patients are being contacted directly but are being asked to use the McPhillips Street entrance to access care.

Visitors are not allowed for at least the next 24 hours, with the exception of end-of-life situations, the health authority said.

Police said they won't provide additional information at this time, including the nature of the assault, because it's early in the investigation.

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