B.C. United is renewing its calls to end decriminalization after the release of what it calls an Island Health memo B次元官网网址渁ctivelyB次元官网网址� directing drug use in hospitals.
Dated March 12, the document says it is B次元官网网址渋ntended for acute care staff to help guide interactions with people who use substancesB次元官网网址� while admitted to health care facilities.
The release comes after the release of a July 2023 document from Northern Health providing guidance staff following what it calls an B次元官网网址渋ncrease in admissions of patients with possession of substances and using substances while in hospital.B次元官网网址�
B.C. UnitedB次元官网网址檚 Renee Merrifeld, MLA for Kelowna-Mission, said this second document is as B次元官网网址渟hocking as the firstB次元官网网址� in noting that it directs B次元官网网址渁cute care staff to not only accommodate but actively support drug use in health facilities.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址楤次元官网网址淚nstead of requiring patients to stop using substances when they access care, staff must work collaboratively with patients,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Merrifeld said, quoting parts of the memo.
Shirley Bond, MLA for Prince George-Valemount, said the document is even worse than the Northern Health document.
B次元官网网址楤次元官网网址淚f a patient has an IV or catheter, provide education on injecting into lines,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� she said, quoting a line from the document.
Health Minister Adrian Dix responded that staff has engage with patients, and with the health issues they face.
B次元官网网址淪taff will continue to do that, to provide the utmost possible care to everyone in our hospital,B次元官网网址� he said.
He added everyone admitted to an acute care hospital deserves the best possible care.
B次元官网网址淓veryone needs to have their interests protected,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淢any people, of course, the vast majority, enter with no substance abuse issues but serious health issues. Their interests need to be protected. If someone has a car accident and ends up in hospital, their interest (has to) be protected. EveryoneB次元官网网址檚 interests needs to be protected.B次元官网网址�
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Looming behind this exchange are the related questions of work safety for nurses and decriminalization.
Dix recently formed a task force to help create province-wide standards in response to reports of illicit substances being used in hospitals and nurses being exposed to drugs. Dix told reporters Tuesday the task force will soon report out, while confirming reports of the weekend that hospitals wonB次元官网网址檛 have designated spaces for illicit drug use.
He also said during Question Period Tuesday B.C. will take all steps necessary to protect patients, pointing to the recent addition of 320 relational security staff to support health care workers.
The B.C. Nurses Union said in a statement to Black Press Media that it supports harm reduction measures supporting individuals experience substance use disorders.
B次元官网网址淓xposure to illicit drugs while being consumed in hospital settings is a concern for many of our members,B次元官网网址� it reads.B次元官网网址漊ltimately, it is the responsibility of health employers to support harm reduction strategies and ensure the occupational health and safety of nurses, health care staff and other patients.B次元官网网址�
Island Health said in a statement that the document is neither a B次元官网网址渕emoB次元官网网址� nor B次元官网网址減olicyB次元官网网址� but rather a B次元官网网址渞esource document to support and promote both patient and staff safetyB次元官网网址� while providing care to patients using substances, B次元官网网址渋ncluding care management and harm reduction strategies.B次元官网网址�
It adds substance use disorder is a medical condition and B次元官网网址減roactive conversations with patients about their substance use is a critical partB次元官网网址� of health and safety planning.
The statement also addresses comments around injecting into IV lines.
B次元官网网址淪taff will not physically administer any medication or substance to a patient that is not prescribed and the resource document does not direct them to do so,B次元官网网址� it said.
B次元官网网址淭hrough experience and learning, we understand that patients will sometimes inject unregulated substances into their IVs, if they have them,B次元官网网址� it reads, adding that this practice carries many significant risks.
B次元官网网址淭hat is why it is important to educate patients on safety, if the providerB次元官网网址檚 assessment indicates that there is a risk that the patient may inject through an existing IV line,B次元官网网址� it reads. B次元官网网址淲e know through learned experience that not providing education is not a patient-centred approach.B次元官网网址�
