Langley Memorial Hospital nurse assaulted, police investigating

Police in Langley are investigating after a nurse at a local hospital was assaulted earlier this month.

The Langley RCMP explains that they received reports of an assault just after midnight on March 8 at the Langley Memorial Hospital.

“Officers arrived and located hospital security who were engaging with an alleged suspect that had physically assaulted a nurse and had produced an edged weapon,” Sgt. Zynal Sharoom said in an update on Monday.

“A 37-year old man from Surrey was arrested for assault and assault with a weapon,” Sharoom added.

The suspect has been released from custody awaiting his next court date.

“It’s deeply concerning, not only or the community but also for hospital staff who are simply doing their best to provide health care to everyone,” said Sharoom. “No individuals were injured as a result of this incident.”

BC Nurses’ Union President Adriane Gear says the incident is just one example of prolific problem.

“There are many other incidents that happen on a daily basis that doesn’t make it to the public domain. And so this is just one more example of what nurses and other health-care professionals and health-care workers are dealing with while trying to provide care to British Columbians,” said Gear.

She’s calling on the government to improve risk communication across the board.

“What was to stop this patient to then show up at St Paul’s or show up at Surrey Memorial, or Vancouver General Hospital? And until we start doing a better job of communicating the risk of violence that certain patients have, certain behaviors that pose a risk to themselves and others. That is definitely a huge gap,” said Gear.

“If staff can be better prepared knowing what some of the behaviors are that a certain individual might have, we can then takes steps to not only keep ourselves safe, but also keep patients safe.”

Gear says health-care spaces need to be healthy and safe for everybody.

Police are urging anyone with information about the incident to contact the Langley RCMP.

—With files from Michael Williams