More safety officers to be placed in Manitoba hospitals, safety app extended: Health Minister

More safety officers to be placed in Manitoba hospitals, safety app extended: health minister

More institutional safety officers are set to enter hospitals this spring in an effort to improve staff and patient safety within Manitoba health care facilities, as grey listings are looming over St. Boniface Hospital.

“Violence has absolutely no place in healthcare,” said Uzoma Asagwara, Manitoba Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-term Care.

The province says 128 fully funded institutional officers are to patrol in Manitoba hospitals, 60 of those will be at Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg, and 18 at St. Boniface Hospital.

The officers will provide support on crisis intervention, de-escalation, and emergency response.

“We are announcing the largest coordinated safety investment in Manitoba’s health system ever,” said Asagwara.

The investment also includes the expansion of a safety app, which is intended to provide real-time alerts to staff.

“It’s a bi-directional communication system in terms of having direct and immediate access to a phone number that links to security,” said Dr. Chris Christodoulou, the interim-president and CEO of Shared Health.

Asagwara said the decision comes after hearing feedback from frontline workers and unions.

A statement from Doctors Manitoba reads, “Doctors have been raising concern and offering advice for some time, and believe every health facility should be safe and accessible to everyone. Today is another important step towards realizing that goal. We have been actively involved in offering recommendations to make health care safer and more accessible for everyone.”

Darlene Jackson, the president of the Manitoba Nurses Union, added, “I think it’s shameful that we have to go to the lengths we go to ensure that nurses and other frontline workers and patients are safe in facilities.”

Meanwhile, the Manitoba Nurses Union is welcoming the change, but says it took nurses years to advocate for extended safety measures.

The announcement comes at a time when the nurses’ union is calling for a gray list vote for St. Boniface Hospital.

“It’s great that the government is looking at doing this. I am not sure whether it’s a coincidence that it happens on the eve of a gray list vote,” said Jackson.

These measures will also include the installation of amnesty lockers to provide secure storage at entry points, strengthened monitored access points, expanded surveillance systems, and enhanced emergency communication tools as part of a layered safety strategy.

“There is more to do. So, we are going to continue to do that work together, prioritizing your safety, the safety of your patients, and those who access healthcare across the province,” said Asagwara.