SYDNEY, April 9 (Xinhua) -- A woman has been charged over an alleged hammer attack at a Sydney hospital in the early hours of Thursday that left a male patient with life-threatening injuries.

The police force in the state of New South Wales (NSW) said in a statement that emergency services were called to reports of an assault at the hospital in Sydney's inner west around 12:15 a.m. local time on Thursday.

Officers were told at the scene that a woman had allegedly entered the hospital and struck a 63-year-old male patient in the head with a hammer, causing serious injuries.

NSW Police said that the man, who was known to the alleged assailant, was in a critical condition.

A 46-year-old woman was arrested at the hospital and taken to a nearby police station, where she was charged with wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 25 years' imprisonment.

NSW's Minister for Health, Ryan Park, on April 2 announced that the state government would invest in more security for hospitals. ■