The death of a patient in an incident that drew police to the Health Sciences Center on Sunday has been declared a serious incident, prompting an internal investigation and raising further questions about the safety of the city center hospital campus.
Details provided by Shared Health were limited, but medical officials said the man was initially taken to the HSC Campus Mental Health Crisis Center on Bannatyne Street on Saturday, but sustained self-inflicted injuries while in the hospital ward. He reportedly died after committing the act. process.
“It was scary,” the source said. “It was very tragic for everyone there.”
Dr. James Bolton, medical director of Shared Health Crisis Services and HSC Emergency Psychiatry, said support was available to patients' families and staff.
“It was very devastating for everyone who was there.” – Source
“We can confirm that over the weekend, two incidents (one at CRC and one at HSC) that resulted in the death of patients occurred at our Crisis Response Center and Health Sciences Center,” he said in a statement. Stated. “We extend our deepest sympathies to the families of the patients involved and to all those affected by this tragic event.
“The events leading up to the patient's death have been declared a serious incident and an investigation is underway.”
Police spokesperson Const. Jason Michalishen said officers were called to the crisis center on Saturday after a man was in distress with self-inflicted injuries.
Michalishen said officers helped get him under control and stabilize him so he could receive medical care.
The man underwent surgery at HSC and was placed in a ward for recovery and further treatment, officials said.
Officials said the man assaulted at least one staff member on Sunday and died shortly afterward after inflicting self-inflicted injuries.
The incident raised questions about patient and staff safety and what can be done to prevent similar situations, officials added.
Michalishen said officers were not present during Sunday's incident, but were alerted. He deferred further comment on the incident to Shared Health.
The Free Press obtained an email to staff warning them of an investigation involving police.
“There is no risk to staff, patients or visitors,” the email said. “We would like to thank all members of our team for providing exemplary care while remaining calm and professional throughout this event.”
The email does not provide specific details about what happened.
“We are providing you with more detailed information because it allows us to share more details while maintaining your privacy,” staff were told. “This incident will have shocked many members of our team, and we want to ensure everyone takes time to check in with each other over the coming days and weeks.”
Critical incident stress management sessions were provided to affected employees, the email added.
“There is no risk to staff, patients or visitors.” – emailed to staff
On Monday, the Manitoba Nurses' Union is gathering information and considering how to support affected members, a spokesperson wrote in an email.
State law defines a serious incident as “an unexpected event that occurs during the provision of health care services to an individual and that has serious and undesirable consequences for that person.”
This may include death, injury, or disability that “does not result from a person’s underlying health condition or from risks inherent in the provision of health care services.”
The investigation aims to determine the facts and make recommendations to reduce the likelihood of the incident happening again.
The weekend incident comes as HSC staff have raised concerns about the safety of the city center hospital and its immediate vicinity.
Health officials say violence against employees is common.
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Police have charged a patient in his 20s in connection with the stabbing of a security guard at an adult emergency department in February.
MNU has filed a complaint calling for stronger security measures to better protect staff following attacks and break-ins on vehicles in staff parking lots.
Last month, an arbitrator ordered Shared Health, the authority with jurisdiction over HSC, to develop a safety plan. Plans have been submitted, a Shared Health spokesperson confirmed.
The arbitrator said in the ruling that hospital staff face “unacceptable levels of risk” in areas outside the hospital grounds.
A new facility safety officer began working at the hospital in April. Following instructions from Health Minister Uzoma Asakawa, we are currently selling pepper gel.
chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca
chris kitchen
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As a general assignment reporter, Chris covers a little bit of everything for the Free Press.
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