Police are appealing for information about a woman who was seen leaving the vicinity shortly after a 42-year-old woman was stabbed in a car park of Ailsa hospital in Ayr on Thursday morning.

Two hospitals on the outskirts of Ayr on the west coast of Scotland were initially under lockdown as police responded to reports of a stabbing.

Staff and patients at University Hospital Ayr, a general hospital south-east of Ayr, and nearby Ailsa hospital, a smaller facility which specialises in mental health, psychiatry and addictions, were first told not to leave the site, but the lockdown was lifted by 1pm.

The injured woman, who is employed as a community support worker at the hospital, was taken to Ayr hospital for treatment, where her injuries were described by medical staff as being serious but stable.

Both hospitals are now open as normal, although police officers are continuing to search the area, supported by a police helicopter team and dog handlers.

Supt Brian Shaw said: “I am urging anyone who witnessed the attack to get in touch with us. I am particularly keen to hear from anyone who was in the area around 10am and has information about a woman who was seen leaving the area shortly after the 42-year-old woman was stabbed.”

“She is described as being around 5ft 2in to 5ft 3in in height, slight build and pale complexion. She was wearing a dark woolly hat and a dark jacket. If you recognise her description or have information about her identity please call Police Scotland via 101.”

He added that officers were reviewing CCTV and carrying out door-to-door enquiries in an effort to identify the woman responsible.

Asked about the incident at the hospitals during first minister’s questions in Holyrood on Thursday, Nicola Sturgeon told the chamber: “My understanding is that the injuries sustained [by the victim] were not life-threatening. The police are fully involved in this because, obviously, the safety of staff and patients are of the utmost importance and will be driving everything that is being done.”