The death of a patient following an event that saw police to rush to Health Sciences Centre on Sunday has been declared a critical incident, prompting an internal investigation and more questions about safety at the inner-city hospital campus.
While Shared Health provided limited details, a health-care source said the man, who was initially taken to the HSC campus’ mental health crisis response centre on Bannatyne Avenue on Saturday, died after self-harming, while he was on a hospital ward for treatment.
“It was horrific,” the source said. “It was very catastrophic for everybody who was there.”
Dr. James Bolton, medical director of Shared Health crisis response services and HSC emergency psychiatry, said supports were made available to the patient’s family and staff.
“It was very catastrophic for everybody who was there.”–Source
“We are able to confirm that over the past weekend, the crisis response centre and Health Sciences Centre were the location of two incidents — one at CRC and one at HSC — that resulted in a patient death,” he said in a statement. “Our deepest sympathies extend to the family of the patient involved as well as to all who are affected by this tragic event.
“The events leading up to the patient’s death have been declared a critical incident and are being investigated.”
Police spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen said officers were called to the crisis response centre Saturday, after a man in distress self-harmed.
Officers helped to bring him under control and stabilize him for medical care, said Michalyshen.
The man underwent surgery at HSC and was placed on a unit for recovery and further care, the source said.
The source said the man assaulted at least one staff member Sunday, and died after self-harming shortly afterward.
The incidents have raised questions about patient and staff safety, and what could be done to prevent similar circumstances, the source added.
Michalyshen said police officers were not present during Sunday’s incident, but they were notified. He deferred further comment about that incident to Shared Health.
The Free Press obtained an email to staff, which alerted workers to an investigation involving police.
“There is no risk to staff, patients or visitors,” the email stated. “We are grateful to all members of our team who have provided exemplary care while remaining calm and professional throughout this event.”
The email did not disclose specific details about what happened.
“As more details are able to be shared while maintaining privacy, we will provide those,” staff were told. “This event will have shaken many members of our team and we want to ensure that we all take the time to check in with each other over the coming days and weeks.”
Critical incident stress management sessions were made available to employees who were affected, the email added
“There is no risk to staff, patients or visitors.”–Email to staff
On Monday, the Manitoba Nurses Union was gathering information and looking into how to support members who were impacted, a spokeswoman wrote in an email.
Provincial legislation defines a critical incident as “an unintended event that occurs when health services are provided to an individual and results in a consequence to him or her that is serious and undesired.”
It can include death, injury or disability, which “does not result from the individual’s underlying health condition or from a risk inherent in providing the health services.”
An investigation is meant to determine the facts and make recommendations to reduce the likelihood of an incident from happening again.
The weekend incidents happened at a time when HSC staff have raised concerns about safety at and near the inner-city hospital.
The health-care source said violence against employees is common.
In February, police charged a patient in his 20s after a security guard in the adult emergency department was stabbed.
The MNU has filed grievances pushing for more robust security measures to better protect staff, following attacks and break-ins to vehicles in an employee parkade.
Last month, an arbitrator ordered Shared Health, the authority which is responsible for HSC, to create a safety plan. A plan has been submitted, a Shared Health spokesperson confirmed.
In a decision, the arbitrator said hospital staff face an “unacceptable level of risk” in exterior areas of the hospital campus.
New institutional safety officers began working at the hospital in April. They now carry pepper gel, following a directive from Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara.
chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca
Chris Kitching
Reporter
As a general assignment reporter, Chris covers a little bit of everything for the Free Press.