Hillside Centre in Kamloops is one of four psychiatric facilities in the province that will be subject to a hard look in the coming weeks due to the number of violent episodes at the facility.
Gayle Duteil, president of the B.C. Nurses’ union, said negotiations with the health ministry has led to a plan to gather information from the facility adjacent to Royal Inland Hospital, along with psychiatric centres in Port Coquitlam, Victoria and Abbotsford, to address the problem.
“Violence should not be considered part of anyone’s job,” Duteil said, adding meetings with front-line workers will happen soon.
She said Health Minister Terry Lake has committed funds to pay for the initial work, with an plan to expand the project to eight other facilities in a second phase. Duteil said the ministry has also committed to considering all solutions the union proposes.
Hillside has reported ongoing incidences of violence toward nursing staff, with the union saying in late 2013 six nurses had left the facility because they didn’t feel safe.
Among reported incidents was a nurse attacked by a man who was told to wait for toast. It took the efforts of eight other staff members to get the man off the nurse.
While the potential for violent confrontations exists because patients have psychiatric issues, Duteil said there are safeguard and procedures that can be put into place to reduce their potential.
“Many violent attacks could be prevented by increasing safety officers, providing personal alarms, specialized training and appropriate staffing for patients’ care needs, especially those who are aggressive or violent,” she said.
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