Nov. 1 our community was shaken to its core with the news that an infant had been abducted from the Sudbury Regional Hospital. For seven long hours, we collectively held our breath, and held out hope, for the news we all longed to hear. As we received word that the child was safe, the joy and relief we felt was replaced by the question: how could this happen, and how could we prevent it from happening again?
These questions have been the subject of a thorough review by the Sudbury Regional Hospital, the results of which were presented at the public board of directors meeting on Nov. 13.
The hospital has treated this incident and review with the utmost gravity.
Some measures to increase security for families on the maternity unit – such as the posting of a dedicated security guard on the floor – were implemented immediately.
A working group was struck and a review began within hours of the end of the crisis. This group held debriefing sessions and consultations, surveyed other health-care institutions, conducted a literature review, and undertook an audit of our security systems and precautions.
We have identified areas for improvement – some steps are new and some deal with our existing measures. We have already begun the process of reinforcing our policies and procedures around security ID for staff and physicians, and are revisiting and enhancing our staff education and training, as well as parental instruction. Visiting regulations have been posted, visitation to the maternity unit has been tightened, and staff are in a state of heightened vigilance.
The test, of course, will be whether we are able to maintain that vigilance in the long term. Given the seriousness of the incident that prompted these measures and the professionalism with which our staff and physicians approach their duties, it is a test I have every confidence we will pass.
We expect to institute technological improvements within the next several weeks, including magnetic locking system on stairwells and upgrading our security camera surveillance software. Finally, we will continue to hold mock exercises in order to put our new security initiatives through their paces.
As we transition to one site, plans that have been in place for our new maternity unit, as part of phase two of our construction project, will come to fruition and our community will have the most modern and technologically secure unit possible. It will also have an experienced staff who will always remember having been tested by the real thing.
While we continue to diligently improve our ability to prevent future incidents, we are also strengthening our response measures, many of which proved instrumental the day of the abduction. A staff member’s suspicion was aroused by seeing a security policy being contravened.
This prompted an alert that called our rehearsed emergency response plan into action. Police response time was excellent, and the vivid images caught by the hospital’s surveillance camera system allowed an Amber Alert and the media to begin broadcasting the suspect’s appearance to communities across the province within minutes. These response measures were instrumental to the successful resolution of the incident and safe return of the child.
For the second time in six months, we were reminded again how fortunate we are to live in such an incredible community, region, and province. The response by our hospital staff, the community, our Greater Sudbury Police Service, the Ontario Provincial Police, City of Greater Sudbury EMS, North Bay hospital and police officials, our local and regional media, the Amber Alert, and many concerned individuals, was exceptional. The speed with which this community response came together was incredible. A great fear was realized, but was ultimately defeated by the quick and decisive actions of many.
On behalf of the Sudbury Regional Hospital, I would like to again express our heartfelt thoughts to the parents, who had to endure the unimaginable.
To each and every person who participated in the search, offered support or simply held their breath and prayed – we extend our deepest and most heartfelt gratitude.
To the community, we offer reassurances that we will do our utmost to ensure that such an incident never happens again.
Vickie Kaminski is Sudbury Regional Hospital’s president and CEO. The hospital’s report on its security response can be found on the hospital’s website at www.hrsrh.on.ca.
