Health-care security review sparks fears of contracting out

An external review of security done for the Saskatchewan Health Authority has triggered a union’s concerns about the potential for the contracting out of security services at provincial health-care facilities.

The review by consultant Tony Weeks of Biglean Consultation and Advisory Services produced 27 recommendations to improve security.

His report suggests developing a business case that would look at different staffing options, including the continued use of in-house personnel, contracting out, or a blend of the two.

Service Employees International Union-west represents more than 100 health authority-employed security officers at various health-care facilities.

Union vice-president Neil Colmin says bringing in people with no background in health care and no knowledge of these workplaces would be detrimental.

He says the union will go over the review with the authority next month and advocate for retaining in-house security.

Colmin said current health authority security officers are highly trained and understand the values and needs of the public health-care system. He expects the authority will find that the busiest of its more than 200 facilities have security needs that are under-served, and he believes the best way to meet those needs is to train more inhouse security staff.

The review consisted of multiple focus groups, including Metis and Indigenous groups, as well as a survey of security staff and physicians.

Among the 27 recommendations is a call to centralize and standardize security infrastructure and technology, investigations, equipment, reporting and training.

There is no deadline for implementing the recommendations.