Violent incident at Yellowknife hospital leads to call for security changes

Health care workers in Yellowknife are calling for security changes after another incident of patient violence at Stanton Territorial Hospital.

Hospital staff called a Code White, which brings staff from all units to respond to an aggressive patient, on Friday after an inpatient became extremely violent. It took several employees to restrain the patient, leaving some hospital staff requiring medical treatment for their injuries.

The situation follows a November incident in which a patient went on a violent rampage, throwing equipment and threatening security staff. 

Since then, Sheila Laity, who represents unionized hospital workers, says Stanton has made some physical changes to make the work environment safer, including upgrading the hospital's seclusion room. However, she says the workers' primary demand — assistance during violent episodes — has not been addressed.

"They'd like to feel that when they go to work, they are safe," says Laity, "and the people that they're caring for are safe as well."

Philosophical differences

Security personnel are currently unable to physically intervene at Stanton, but that's not due to legislation, according to Glen Abernethy, the Minister of Health and Social Services.

"The legislation that exists within the criminal code actually allows us to intervene," says Abernethy. "The reason we don't intervene is that we have, or rather Stanton has in place a philosophy to use non-violent methods."

That philosophy, says Abernethy, is reflected in the contract between Stanton and their security providers. When a Code White is called, RCMP are immediately dispatched to the hospital, but Abernethy acknowledged there is "a gap" in regards to the time between when the incident begins and when police arrive.

"We need an environment that is welcoming to our clients," he says. "We need an environment that is also safe.

"And through non-violent crisis intervention, our staff are trained how to deal with individuals... to help control them and reduce the need for physical interaction."

Abernethy says he's created a working group to look into the situation, who will report back to him with recommendations in three months. That includes reviewing security practises in hospitals across the country. In the meantime, he says Stanton workers should continue to voice their concerns to their employers.

Laity says that although most incidents can be handled without physical interaction, Friday's incident highlights the safety issues inherent to Stanton staff.

"There are situations that, despite all the de-escalation that the staff do, escalate," she says. "Those are the situations that are particularly violent that they need to have assistance from security. To help them intervene, to physically restrain, if need be."