The nurses union fears more violent incidents will take place unless something changes.

A Wairarapa Hospital visitor suffered a skull fracture after being attacked with a machete in the emergency department on Saturday night.

In December, the Government temporarily boosted security staff at a number of hospitals til the end of February.

Nurses Organisation President Kerri Nuku told Mike Hosking that de-escalation training needs to go across the board.

She wants nurses involved in conversations around what to do.

LISTEN ABOVE

• Man, 62, accused of brutal machete attack inside hospital ED
• 'Something horrific': Man suffers skull fracture in bloody ED machete attack
• "It's a real problem": Wairarapa Hospital attack exemplifies rising violence in EDs