A MAN who allegedly wounded six people with a metal bar after being denied a hospital appointment has been detained under the Mental Health Act.

Officers were called to Newton Community Hospital in Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, shortly after midday on Tuesday.

It was reported that a man had become “increasingly agitated” when his request for an appointment was refused and damaged a counter before assaulting several people, believed to include staff.

Today Merseyside Police said that six people required treatment in hospital and at walk-in centres for head lacerations as well as injuries to their arms and hands. All are in a stable condition.

A metal bar used during the incident was recovered for forensic examination.

A man, 20, who lives in Newton-le-Willows and is originally from Afghanistan, was arrested on suspicion of six counts of wounding, affray and criminal damage.

He was taken to a police station on Merseyside and later detained under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act, a police spokesman said.

Cllr Seve Gomez-Aspron, for the Newton-le-Willows ward, said that his father, who lives next door to the hospital, heard that someone was attacking staff and damaging the reception area.

He said: “I can only thank Merseyside Police and North West Ambulance Service for such a swift and efficient response, running into a scenario where danger is unknown.

“It’s a shock, but as always, we need to await the full facts without speculation.”

Yesterday, the force said that a scene remained in place at the community hospital, and a mobile police station was on site.