By Dave Baxter | Winnipeg Sun
A new partnership will see First Nation Safety Officers (FNSO) patrolling at Portage la Prairie’s hospital, as Manitobans continue to raise concerns about safety and security at emergency rooms and health-care facilities.
The NDP government has announced a new pilot project that will have Long Plain First Nation Safety Officers stationed at Portage District General Hospital on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.
These officers will patrol the hospital and its surrounding campus, parking lots and properties, according to Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe when they are accessing health care,” Asagwara said in a media release announcing the three-month pilot project. “This is an incredible opportunity to work with our partners in Long Plain First Nation to enhance safety for the front lines, patients and the broader community.”
The project will see officers from Long Plain’s Arrowhead Security take on the security role at the hospital.
“The safety and security of Long Plain First Nation members and businesses has always been of paramount importance to leadership,” Long Plain First Nation Chief David Meeches said in a media release.
“Years ago, we took it upon ourselves to form a security team with the best interest of the nation in mind. What started as a handful of band security officers quickly evolved into Arrowhead Security.
“Our nation is proud of the expansion and growth of our FNSO/security program.”
The officers will be trained in public safety, crime prevention and de-escalation techniques, and perform duties including providing a welcoming service for patients, caregivers and support persons, screening for weapons, contraband and intoxicants, patrolling the exterior campus and parking lots and offering safe walk services for staff.
When on scene the officers will also take over the custody of patients from the RCMP who are being held under the Mental Health Act for medical and psychiatric assessment.
“During the listening tour, we heard directly from the front-line workers about the challenges they are facing in terms of safety and security,” Asagwara said.
“We are responding to those concerns by increasing safety officer presence in health-care facilities throughout the province.”
A provincial spokesperson confirmed the pilot project will cost the province a total of $20,250, and will be funded through the department of Health, Seniors and Long-term Care.
According to the province, institutional safety officers were first introduced at Health Sciences Centre (HSC) in Winnipeg back in April, as part of what they government said would be increased efforts to respond to safety concerns reported by staff during the front-line listening tour of health care facilities.
The program has since been expanded to the St. Boniface Hospital, Victoria Hospital, Brandon Regional Health Centre and the Selkirk Mental Health Centre.
Calls for improved security in hospitals and emergency rooms, and growing concern about health care worker and patient safety have also been coming from other areas of the province recently.
Last month the Manitoba Nurses Union (MNU) said in a post shared on the organization’s Facebook page that nurses in Swan River no longer felt safe coming to work because of “escalating violence” at the Swan Valley Primary Care Centre.
Since those concerns were raised, PMH officials have said they are working to address nurses concerns.
