Patient seen sooner after allegedly assaulting nurse at Winnipeg hospital

Questions are being raised about how health officials handled a patient at Grace Hospital who allegedly assaulted a nurse. Taylor Brock reports.

Questions are being raised about how health officials handled a patient at Grace Hospital who allegedly assaulted a nurse.

A Winnipeg Regional Health Authority spokesperson confirmed an incident happened March 26 between a patient and nurse.

It said they still had a legal and ethical duty to provide care to those in need.

“As part of a balancing act to ensure the safety of staff and others in our facilities, a process is being used to ensure some patients who are known to have aggressive behavior are provided care in a way that limits the amount of time they spend in our facilities while still receiving the appropriate level of care for their medical needs,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

In a social media post, the Manitoba Nurses Union said the way the patient was given priority after the alleged assault sends the wrong message by seemingly rewarding abusive behaviour.

Progressive Conservatives’ health critic Kathleen Cook echoed the statement, calling it deplorable.

“Unfortunately, the response in that situation was to fast track that patient’s care, presumably to get them out of the ER as quickly as possible,” said Cook. “Which I think sends a terrible message to front-line healthcare workers and a terrible message to law-abiding patients who are waiting hours longer than they were at this time last year, that a patient who is violent can cut them in line. “

The WRHA said the victim was offered supports.

“We take all incidents of violence very seriously,” the spokesperson said. “Winnipeg Police are involved in this most recent incident at Grace Hospital and charges have been laid. A debrief with Grace Hospital leadership and staff took place after this incident and the victim was offered a number of supports.

“We also encourage any staff members who have been impacted by an event to reach out to the Employee Assistance Program.”

Winnipeg police confirmed on Wednesday that they responded to the incident, and a woman is facing an assault charge,

- with files from CTV’s Will Reimer