Manitoba Nurses Union alleges Shared Health buried 2020 safety report

The Manitoba Nurses Union has filed an unfair labour practice complaint against Shared Health, alleging that it did not disclose a safety report from 2020.

“If you knew about this, why weren’t you dealing with it?” said Darlene Jackson, the president of the Manitoba Nurses Union.

“I think if the report had been released and had been made public, and shared health actually started dealing with those safety lapses that were reported in that report, I think that we wouldn’t be in the position that we’re in now. Because this has just grown over the past five years.”

This all comes after a string of assaults in and around the Health Sciences Centre on nurses, health care aides, and doctors.

“When I talk to nurses, what they say to me is, they’ve never seen safety issues like this,” said Jackson.

Jackson says the report should have been shared with them when the union went to arbitration over safety issues at the Health Sciences Centre.

But she only found out about it due to a separate grievance, then had to file a freedom of information request to actually get it.

“Everyone who either receives or provides care at Winnipeg’s facilities and at every facility in this province, we need to keep them safe, and so I think the lack of transparency really worries me,” said Jackson.

While she can’t say what’s in the report due to the ongoing complaint, she doesn’t believe Shared Health acted on the issues identified within it, unless compelled by an arbitrator.

In a statement, Shared Health says the report was an internal planning resource to support health system coordination and initiate several important measures – but that they can’t comment further as the complaint proceeds.

“The safety and security of all staff, patients, and visitors remains a top priority for our health care system. Significant measures have been implemented to strengthen safety across our health system, including the Health Sciences Centre campus,” said Shared Health in a statement.

“We remain committed to ongoing improvements and to working with all partners to ensure safe environments for staff, patients, and visitors and are dedicated to learn more on the contributing societal and population health factors.”

The province has stationed cops at the flagship hospital 24/7, which began one week ago. They’ve also reduced access points, implemented staffed screening and weapon scanners, and upgraded lighting and access controls.

Jackson says it’s too early to judge if the 24/7 police around here are making an impact.