Health Union Raises Alarm Over Hospital Safety in Saskatchewan

Concerns regarding safety in Saskatchewan’s hospitals have escalated, highlighting staffing and capacity challenges. The President of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 5430, Bashir Jalloh, emphasized that these issues are not confined to major urban centers like Saskatoon or Regina but are affecting facilities across the province, including Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert.

Recent incidents at Royal University Hospital and St. Paul’s Hospital have drawn public attention. Jalloh noted that staff members at Victoria Hospital are facing harassment and theft from vehicles parked near the hospital, citing an increase in individuals congregating in the area. “There’s a lot of theft from their vehicles, they are facing a lot of harassment when they are walking to their car,” he stated.

The situation has worsened as complaints have emerged about a growing number of homeless individuals and those with mental health challenges in hospital waiting rooms. These issues have contributed to heightened anxiety among patients and staff alike. A particularly alarming incident last month involved a man being removed from St. Paul’s Hospital by security personnel after allegedly causing a disruption. He was later found lying in the snow and required assistance from Mobile Crisis.

Jalloh pointed out that overcapacity at Victoria Hospital is a significant concern, with many individuals who previously sought mental health support in the community now turning to the emergency room. This shift has led to longer wait times for patients with other urgent needs. “We’re going to see things like that more and more. It’s very unfortunate to say that but it’s just a fact,” he remarked.

While the Saskatchewan government has introduced new urgent care centers, Jalloh warned that these facilities also struggle with staffing issues. He referred to the Regina center, which faced closures over the Christmas period, highlighting, “They can’t even run it consistently for two shifts.”

In a related incident at Victoria Hospital, security officers who removed the disruptive individual were terminated from their positions. Additionally, the recent death of Trevor Dubois at Royal University Hospital reportedly occurred following an altercation with security officers, raising further concerns about safety protocols.

Jalloh proposed an alternative solution: training security officers in-house instead of contracting out the service. He argued that having personnel familiar with the hospital’s daily operations and protocols could enhance safety. “Nothing gets done to prevent the issue from escalating,” he added, criticizing the current reliance on contracted employees who may lack a vested interest in the hospital environment.

The Saskatchewan New Democratic Party (NDP) has echoed these safety concerns, asserting that frontline workers have consistently identified safety as a pressing issue during ongoing healthcare consultations. “Patients have also reported avoiding emergency rooms due to chaos and fear for their own well-being,” the party stated in a recent press release.

In a collective response, over 200 healthcare workers signed a letter to the CEO of the Saskatchewan Health Authority, demanding an immediate safety plan for St. Paul’s Hospital. This follows a disturbing incident on November 27, when a patient was discovered with a firearm and three knives, directly threatening a frontline worker.

The NDP has called for an emergency safety plan in the Legislature, emphasizing the urgent need for action to ensure the safety of both patients and healthcare workers in Saskatchewan’s hospitals. As the situation unfolds, the demand for improved safety measures and adequate staffing continues to grow.