Nurses demand better safety after Langley hospital attack

Nurses in British Columbia are urging for improved safety measures at hospitals following an assault at Langley Memorial Hospital. This incident occurred on March 8, where a nurse was attacked with an "edged weapon." Although the nurse did not sustain serious injuries, it has raised concerns about safety in healthcare settings. Adriane Gear, president of the BC Nurses' Union, highlighted a troubling trend of rising violence against healthcare workers. She reported that there are about 46 serious assaults each month, defined as incidents requiring claims to WorkSafeBC. This does not even account for near-misses or other violent incidents that result in physical or psychological harm but do not require formal claims. One major issue is the lack of communication about patient risks between different healthcare facilities. Nurses believe there should be a better system to warn staff about patients who have a history of violence. Moreover, they emphasized the need for stricter measures to prevent weapons from entering healthcare settings. Gear compared it to airline security, suggesting that facilities need secure storage for patients’ belongings to prevent dangerous items from being brought inside. Health Minister Josie Osborne described the Langley incident as “terrifying” and reiterated that safety in hospitals is a top priority. Since 2022, the province has hired 750 full-time "relational security" officers trained to identify aggressive behavior and help manage conflicts. However, Gear pointed out that these officers are primarily stationed in major healthcare areas, leaving rural facilities reliant on distant police resources. Osborne encouraged healthcare workers to report any incidents of violence. This data is crucial for ensuring security measures are effectively deployed. She assured that the government is committed to working with the nurses' union to expand safety programs in response to the rising concerns.