Expanded Security measures in place at Northern Health facilities in Prince Rupert after recent incident

The Northern Health Unit at the
Ocean Centre,  Prince Rupert
Regional Hospital
and Acropolis Manor all have 
additional security in place after
a recent threat to health care workers

There's finally an answer to why a number of Health care facilities have expanded their security measures in the last week, that in response it appears to a threat of violence to health care workers incident which was acted on by the RCMP.

The Northern View had the details first of the incident and comments from Northern Health towards security measures, publishing the background to it this afternoon, available from their website here.

The threat of violence of October 25th, was one which saw Northern Health take a range of actions, including the change in access protocols at the Prince Rupert Regional Hospital.

 Where in the last few days those looking to attend the facility have had to be buzzed in through the front door and then answer questions of staff, or the un-armed security personnel on station.

Towards the incident, the RCMP responded to the situation and apprehended the individual in question, seizing a variety of weapons and ammunition from his home. 

Subsequently released from custody after a medical  evaluation,  he is now scheduled to appear in court later this month with charges submitted to the BC Prosecution Service for approval. 

Included on that list uttering threats, careless storage of a firearm and possession of a prohibited weapon. 

Up until today and their comments for the Northern View, Northern Health had not spoken to the incident through their communications office, offering no explanation as to the very apparent change in security protocol at their facilities, which include the downtown Northern Health Unit and Acropolis Manor.

The topic still not one that has been spoken towards through their website or the Prince Rupert specific Social Media page that they host.

That social media forum has in the past expressed other concerns about the safety of the hospital, most recently as late as last month, though at that time they didn't offer much more than we'll pass it along to local leadership for an answer.

While most likely not wanting to create a sense of panic from last weeks incident,  the lack of any guidance towards the added security measures and what led to them, would seem to be a communication failure for the Health Authority. 

An organization which should strive to keep the public informed and be as transparent on such issues as much as possible.

Should they have more to add to the current situation we'll update our notes accordingly.

Further items of interest on Northern Health can be explored from our archive page.