Union fears hospital security may go private

The union representing security personnel in some Saskatchewan health-care facilities is sounding the alarm about the possibility of privatization.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) hired Tony Weeks, founder of Ontario-based Bigleap Consultation and Advisory Services, to review security in the province’s health-care facilities because of the rise in violent incidents. Weeks is focusing predominately on hospitals, but security issues at other health-care facilities are also under the lens.

His review began in April and is expected to be finalized in August.

With the amalgamation of 12 health regions to one health authority, Weeks’s recommendations will guide a new provincial protective services and security program.

Barbara Cape, president of SEIU-WEST, has concerns about the scope of the review and fears security services in health-care facilities will be privatized.

In recent years, Saskatchewan’s health authorities have reviewed health system services such as laundry, information technology and goods services to assess their potential for privatization, she said. “Our members are concerned that yet another vital piece of our public health-care system is about to be privatized,” Cape said.

A number of security officers complained they got short notice about when focus groups would be held and those participating said there wasn’t enough time to talk about short staffing and the lack of ongoing training.

“The period of time for this provincial review really is a short time frame,” Cape said. “I think it’s best when you consult widely, consult broadly and consult deeply.”

As part of the review, Weeks went to Saskatoon, Prince Albert, North Battleford, Swift Current, Regina and Yorkton and spent a day in each centre, said Derek Miller, the SHA’S executive director of infrastructure.

At each location, Weeks held two focus groups: one with staff and health-care leaders and another with security officers in addition to doing some site tours to examine infrastructure. At each focus session, participants were asked what was working well in security services. They were also questioned about their biggest concerns and what their ideal security service would look like.

Following the focus groups, an online survey was distributed to all SHA employees.

Results of the survey and the focus groups will be included in Weeks’s report.

Weeks was chosen to do the review because of his work restructuring health-care security in Alberta, Miller said.

The union contends that inhouse security officer numbers were cut and services were contracted out to a large private security firm when Weeks headed security for Alberta’s provincial health authority.

Cutting costs didn’t drive the security review, Miller said.

“This review is about improving security services,” he said. “We don’t have a mandate or a predetermined outcome of this. Our focus is making our facilities safer for patients, visitors, staff, physicians and the public that accesses them.”

The SEIU surveyed SHA employees in Saskatoon and the public about the state of security at the three Saskatoon hospitals and Parkridge Centre. More than 300 respondents took part in the survey that ran from the end of May to June 25.

On Friday, SEIU-WEST submitted a report outlining their concerns to Scott Livingstone, CEO of the Saskatchewan Health Authority, Health Minister Jim Reiter and other health system leaders.

“I hope they take the brief seriously because the security officers have a lot of expertise,” Cape said.

Health-care security is uniquely challenging, she said.

“These folks who are in security services have seen it all, have done it all and they really work in partnership with law enforcement,” she said.

“They are quite unique in that it is not the same as shopping mall security. They are fully trained, they have a unique set of skills that they bring to the table.”