A 52-year-old man has been charged after three people, including a healthcare worker and two patients, were allegedly assaulted inside a Sydney hospital emergency department.

Police were called to the emergency department of a hospital on Missenden Road in Camperdown at about 5:30pm on Tuesday, 15 September, following reports that a man had assaulted multiple people.

Police allege the man approached a 45-year-old female healthcare worker and punched her in the head. He then allegedly assaulted two patients, a 65-year-old man and a 65-year-old woman, who were waiting for treatment.

The healthcare worker was able to restrain the man while security staff and police were called. Officers subsequently arrested the man and took him to Newtown Police Station. He was charged with two counts of common assault and one count of assaulting a frontline health worker causing no actual bodily harm.

The incident occurred at the emergency department of Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Camperdown, one of Sydney's major hospitals. The hospital is located on Missenden Road and provides emergency and specialist healthcare services to patients from across Sydney and NSW.

Following his arrest, the accused was refused bail and appeared before the Bail Division Court on Wednesday, 16 September.

During the court proceedings, prosecutors opposed his release. The court ultimately refused bail, and the matter was adjourned until 29 September at Newtown Local Court. These allegations have not been tested in court, and the accused is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty.

The incident has highlighted the difficult environment faced by healthcare workers and patients inside busy emergency departments, where staff regularly deal with people experiencing distress or serious medical emergencies.

For the healthcare worker involved, the alleged assault occurred while she was performing her duties in the emergency department. Two patients who were waiting for medical attention were also allegedly attacked during the incident.

Hospital security staff and police responded shortly after the reports were made, allowing the man to be arrested without further escalation.

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital is part of Sydney Local Health District and treats around 80,000 emergency department patients each year, in addition to thousands of ambulance arrivals. The hospital is also undergoing a major redevelopment supported by a NSW Government commitment of $940 million.

The case will now proceed through the NSW court system. Further proceedings are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the alleged assaults and the evidence presented by police.

For Sydney residents, the incident is another reminder of the importance of safety and security inside emergency departments, where healthcare workers and patients can be vulnerable during stressful situations.