Another nurse attacked at Hillside Centre in Kamloops

Last night another nurse was attacked by a patient at Hillside Centre in Kamloops, the second serious assault in four months.

"The fact that another nurse has been hurt while trying to provide safe patient care underscores the urgent need to make worksites safer," says Duteil. "The parties responsible for delivering patient care need to focus on the safety and security of nurses and other health care providers."

In December, another nurse was attacked at Hillside, prompting the BC Nurses' Union to outline an agenda to the Ministry of Health to improve the safety of nurses, patients and all health care workers.

The ministry has recently committed to reviewing four of twelve sites BCNU has identified as needing urgent attention, including Hillside.

BCNU President Gayle Duteil will join the Minister of Health at Hillside Centre tomorrow. Terry Lake has asked that a team of representatives from the ministry, Interior Health and BCNU immediately investigate what happened and make recommendations on improving safety.

The Hillside Centre has received numerous WorkSafeBC orders and warnings related to violence prevention yet the problems persist and nurses remain at risk.