'We will always be here to serve them': Staff added to shore up program for sexual assault victims
Shared Health says it is committed to making changes to a forensic program that examines sexual assault victims in Manitoba, after reports that several victims were turned away when they sought out help.
The sexual assault nursing examiner program, known as SANE, has been experiencing staff shortages, CTV News Winnipeg reported on Wednesday. The Manitoba Nurses Union (MNU) says the service is currently made up of one full-time nurse and 14 casual nurses. The casual nurses work SANE shifts on call during their off-time, and hold other full-time nursing jobs.
"As gaps in coverage and our staffing situation worsened over the course of the pandemic, we identified the need for significant changes to this program," said Monika Warren, chief operating officer of provincial health services and chief nursing officer with Shared Health.
According to Warren, since last April, there were no nurses available to examine 14 sexual assault victims. When a nurse wasn’t available, victims who chose to go home and wait until one was available were asked not to shower.
Warren said asking a patient to not shower if they leave is the normal procedure if no nurse is available, and it’s the patient’s choice to do so.
“Our preference is that they would stay, because typically our period of staffing where we have a gap is a few hours. It’s not days,” she said.
Warren said the department is working to hire a dedicated manager to oversee the program, and says more stability is coming for staffing.
"We have filled five of the seven new permanent positions, with staff beginning these roles over the coming weeks,” she said. “While it will take time for these nurses to gain the specialized expertise and training, we want to assure the patients and all Manitobans that they're continuing to be highly trained nurses working in casual roles still in this area."
While the program will be based at Health Sciences Centre, Warren said training will also occur at sites outside Winnipeg.
She added they want people to continue to access SANE.
“I want to reassure all victims of sexual assault, and intimate partner violence, that we will always be here to serve them,” Warren said. “Our model in terms of how quickly we can serve them, we hope to improve the wait time for them. But please continue to utilize our service. We have compassionate, dedicated staff who want to support you, not only initially, but as you work through the healing process of that very traumatic event.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.