Nurses working at an Adelaide hospital have been offered counselling and support after a patient was charged with the murder of another patient.

South Australia Police have arrested and charged a 23-year-old Woodcroft man with murder after the death of a man, aged in his 40s, at the Noarlunga Hospital overnight.

A nurse doing her rounds at the Morier Ward of the hospital found a man collapsed at around 1am today.

He was unable to be revived and was pronounced dead.

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation South Australian branch secretary Adj Assoc Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM said nurses who work at the ward are receiving support.

“Our understanding is the nurses, whilst of course it’s been quite a shocking experience, have at least been getting some appropriate support from their managers,” she said.

“That includes some appropriate offers of counselling, and also getting people home in an appropriate way rather than expecting them to drive in a state of shock.

“The support that’s been offered by management has been positive and one that we’ve welcomed.

“Obviously our hearts and minds also go out to those who are affected and have been involved in this situation.”

In a statement, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network chief executive officer Belinda Moyes said the incident took place in a contained area of the health service.

“This is obviously a very unfortunate incident and our heart goes out to the victim’s family,” she said.

“The incident has not impacted the wider hospital site and the public are encouraged to attend Noarlunga Hospital as normal.

“Staff and consumers have been briefed about the situation and offered counselling.”

The Morier Ward is a 20-bed acute psychiatric inpatient unit that caters to people aged 18 to 65.