The provincial government is going to be taking a close look into security programs, services and systems at key health-care facilities across Manitoba.
Currently, there are no provincial standards that exist for security at health-care facilities and that means that staff training and the number of security personnel vary from facility to facility.
“It is our responsibility to ensure health-care facilities throughout the province are safe and secure for patients, visitors and staff,” said Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen. “This review will report back on the varying levels of staffing and training standards currently in place at these facilities, and create a plan to ensure the continued safety for all Manitobans visiting or working at these facilities.”
The province says that as part of the review they will interview current security staff at each site to get an understanding of their current duties, contingency and response plans as well as policies and training plans. Reviewers will also take a comprehensive look at physical security at each facility including alarm systems, security equipment and other key security features.
The minister noted that Health Sciences Centre (HSC) has already begun making changes to security by increasing staff levels, enhancing training, equipping staff with personal alarms and limiting access points overnight.
HSC will be part of the review with the intent to build upon the improvements and extend the analysis to other provincial facilities.
The province also announced on Monday, March 11, 2019, that they will be creating a new class of safety officer known as Institutional Safety Officers that would be given the legal authority to enforce specific provincial statutes. These officers would work in not only hospitals but also in specified post-secondary institutions, government facilities and other locations designated by the province.
“This legislation further enhances the abilities and authority of security officers at hospitals to respond to individuals who are in severe distress and pose a risk to themselves or others,” said Friesen. “The role of an institutional safety officer is built on what we’ve heard from health providers and others about improvements that can be made
