The Swan Valley Health Centre emergency department has stopped handing out needles one day after the provincial government announced it is funding a new RCMP unit in the area to target violent and organized crime, including drug trafficking.
Glenda Short, Prairie Mountain Health regional lead of community and continuing care, said the decision was made after a Thursday meeting with staff at the hospital, which is located in Swan River.
“As a result of the meeting, and concerns voiced (Thursday), PMH is working towards additional security staffing at the facility and have also temporarily ceased distribution of harm reduction supplies from the emergency department,” said Short in a statement.
“We will continue to listen to front-line workers and work together to create a safe work environment for them and their patients.”
Swan River’s mayor said this week the Manitoba Harm Reduction Network discontinued handing out harm reduction supplies such as needles earlier this year.
Mayor Lance Jacobson said health officials told town council this summer that half a million needles had been handed out for harm reduction in the past year.
On Thursday, Justice Minister Matt Wiebe was in Swan River to announce the government would fund the new three-officer RCMP unit as a five-year pilot project to address crime in the area.
fpcity@freepress.mb.ca