Nurse seriously assaulted by patient at Hillside Centre in Kamloops

WATCH: A nurse at Hillside Centre was seriously assaulted last night. John Daly explains what happened and what’s being done to address well-documented safety concerns.

VANCOUVER – A nurse was seriously assaulted by a patient at Hillside Centre in Kamloops on Wednesday night.

The nurse defended herself against the attack and other staff members responded to help her. She was treated for her injuries and is recovering at home.

The B.C. Nurses’ Union (BCNU) said in a release that more needs to be done to focus on nurses’ safety.

“The fact that another nurse has been hurt while trying to provide safe patient care underscores the urgent need to make worksites safer,” says union president Gayle Duteil in a release. “The parties responsible for delivering patient care need to focus on the safety and security of nurses and other health care providers.”

Another nurse was attacked at the same adult psychiatric centre in December, prompting the union to outline an agenda to the Ministry of Health to improve the safety of all health care workers.

The ministry has recently committed to reviewing four of twelve sites BCNU has identified as needing urgent attention, including Hillside.

The Hillside Centre has received numerous WorkSafeBC orders and warnings related to violence prevention, yet union says the problems persist and nurses remain at risk.

Health Minister Terry Lake says in a statement that violence is never acceptable.

“I am very concerned by this incident and have asked that a team made up of a representative from the ministry, Interior Health and the BC Nurses’ Union go into Hillside Psychiatric and immediately review what happened and bring recommendations back to the ministry and health authority on improving safety at the centre. I will be joining BCNU president Gayle Duteil and the health authority in a meeting at Hillside Centre tomorrow, April 17.”

“We have made a commitment to the BCNU to work together with unions and health authorities to improve the safety and security of our health-care workers and our patients.”