New Funding At Forensic Psychiatric Hospital Fails To Improve Safety For Nurses

New funding to address a long history of inadequate patient surveillance and security is being welcomed by the BC Nurses' Union, but the move does not signal a new attitude towards meeting legal obligations to provide safer working conditions for nurses.

In September, Forensic Psychiatric Hospital (FPH) was fined $171,000 by WorkSafeBC (WSBC) for failing to exercise due diligence regarding worker safety. Rather than commit to do better, FPH is contesting the fine and delaying making immediate improvements to secure safer working conditions.

"In a year that so far has seen WSBC conduct 25 inspections, issue 11 new prevention orders, and assess a $171,000 fine for negligence, FPH's reaction is to ignore the problem," says BCNU President Gayle Duteil.

"Nurses are offended by management's utter disregard for staff safety, which puts them in harm's way when caring for such volatile patients," she says. "Managers' priority must be to do everything in their power to prevent violence, but instead they resist taking responsibility every step of the way."

The $2.8-million announced November 2nd by Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) for fencing, lighting, landscaping, and security cameras should enable better control of patient movements, including walkaways. FPH reported over 200 patients absent without permission to the RCMP over a nine year period, causing deep anxiety in the surrounding community.

"We are pleased that FPH is finally making changes to better protect the surrounding community ? changes that have been called for by staff, local politicians and the neighbouring First Nation for years."

"Now it's time the Minister of Health directed FPH to clean up their act and ensure they are meeting legal obligations to minimize risks to nurses and other care providers."

BCNU will continue to monitor and report on all practices at FPH, to ensure the public, nurses and other staff are protected from violence.