Prince Albert’s Victoria Hospital is one of three Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) facilities to have new metal detectors installed at the main doors.
The SHA also installed metal detectors at Battlefords Union Hospital in North Battleford and the Regina Urgent Care Centre. Once all three new facilities are online by February 23, metal detectors will be in operation at eight health-care facilities in Saskatchewan, including the emergency room entrances at the five hospitals in Saskatoon and Regina.
“Metal detectors support Protective Services in preventing weapons from entering facilities, enhancing safety and security for patients, visitors and health-care teams,” reads and SHA press release. “They also mean a few things will change for those entering through doors where the metal detectors are located, especially those facilities where they are located at the main doors.”
The SHA said protective service officers will ask all members of the public coming through the doors to declare if they have a restricted item on their person. Restricted items include duffle bags, luggage or food coolers, and weapons of any kind, including knives and other sharp objects, stun-guns, ammunition, explosives, flammables, bear spray, mace or aerosols.
Spiritual or religious items are not restricted unless they pose a clear and immediate risk to the safety of patients, staff, or visitors.
If a restricted item is declared or detected during screening, Protective Services Officers will provide the person with the opportunity to remove the item from the facility or secure it in a designated locker before they are permitted to enter the building. Illegal items cannot be stored. Those who have stored items will received a claim ticket to present upon exit to retrieve the items from the locker.
Individuals will then be asked to remove all metal from their pockets and person (including belts, keys and cell phones), place them in a bin provided, then proceed through the metal detector. An officer will also screen the contents of the bin and any bags they have with them. A hand-operated wand scanner may also be used to confirm that no prohibited items are entering the facility, the release said.
