(file photo/CKOM News Staff)

By Lara Fominoff, CKOM News Staff

Health ministry, SHA working to improve security at hospitals

Feb 1, 2023 | 2:15 PM

The Saskatchewan Health Authority and Ministry of Health are working together to address safety concerns raised by health-care workers.

On Dec. 6, Saskatoon police said a woman walking to Saskatoon’s Royal University Hospital from her parked vehicle was assaulted at the intersection of Monroe Ave. and Colony St. The 32-year-old victim was threatened and struck with what appeared to be a handgun, police said, and was treated for injuries at the scene.

That attack prompted Barbara Cape, president of the Service Employees International Union West, to call for better safe walk and safe ride services for health-care workers before and after their shifts. Cape confirmed the victim was a health-care worker and a member of her union.

During a news conference in Saskatoon on Monday, Health Minister Paul Merriman said he’s aware of the concerns expressed by the union and health authority employees in Saskatoon and Regina, and said improvements are coming.

“We’re continually looking at that – making sure security is there and is available,” Merriman said. “We’re also looking at specifically at St. Paul’s (Hospital), enhancing some of the lighting outside and the security.”

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He said worker safety is a priority.

“We do want to make sure that our staff is safe coming and going to the hospital,” Merriman said.

“We’ll work with the SHA and the hospital staff to be able to make sure that it is safe in and around the hospitals for them to be able to come and go.”

The union, in the meantime, has launched a petition calling for safer parking alternatives and roundtable discussions with the health authority.

Security concerns at Regina’s General Hospital were partially behind the government’s commitment to construct a new parkade for the facility. Construction is expected to begin this spring and be complete in 2024.

When the 800-stall parkade project was announced last fall, Merriman said the government heard the concerns from health-care workers about both security and the availability of nearby parking options.