Durban - Staff and patients were held up at gunpoint at the Kidney Care Centre in Glenwood, Durban on Thursday.

Colonel Thembeka Mbele, a KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson, said the complainant alleged that on Thursday at 05:20, he was performing his duties as a hospital security guard at Umbilo area when five suspects alighted from a white Polo Vivo vehicle and Gold Toyota Yaris.

"At gunpoint the suspects proceeded to the hospital. They robbed the nursing staff and the patients of their jewellery, eight cellphones and a laptop before fleeing the crime scene in their getaway vehicle.

A case of robbery was opened at Umbilo police station for investigation.

Some of the patients were already receiving dialysis treatment when the men stormed in.