Home / Health / Nurses Fearful: St. Boniface Hospital Grey-Listed
Nurses Fearful: St. Boniface Hospital Grey-Listed
21 Feb
Summary
- Nurses voted to grey-list St. Boniface Hospital due to safety concerns.
- Ninety-four percent of nurses supported the unsafe workplace designation.
- Alleged assaults on staff and patients fueled the nurses' decision.
Nurses at St. Boniface Hospital have officially voted to grey-list the facility, marking it as an unsafe workplace. This decision by the Manitoba Nurses Union stems from persistent concerns regarding violence, inadequate security, and significant staffing pressures within the Winnipeg hospital.
The vote saw an overwhelming 94 percent in favour of grey-listing, a measure designed to discourage other nurses from accepting positions there. This action echoes similar grey-listings at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg and Thompson General Hospital over the past year.
Union president Darlene Jackson stated nurses are unwilling to continue working in an environment where safety issues are acknowledged but not resolved. Recent incidents, including a nurse's sexual assault in the hospital parkade on November 8 and an alleged assault on a 94-year-old patient last month, have intensified these concerns.
While the hospital has implemented safety measures such as a safety app, additional security personnel, and limited entry points, the union emphasizes that tangible improvements are still required. These include enhanced protections, a supportive workplace culture, and appropriate staffing ratios to ensure both nurse and patient safety.
