Hillside Centre
(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)
May 27, 2015 - 3:31 PM
KAMLOOPS - The woman accused of assaulting a nurse at the Hillside Psychiatric Centre was declared unfit for trial in Kamloops Provincial Court Wednesday, May 27.
Judge Len Marchand made the declaration after accepting findings from a psychiatric report on Heather Ann Harris, who was charged with assault after the April 15 incident. Details of the assault have not been made public.
During today's hearing, Harris made several accusatory remarks towards Marchand. She asked to be removed from the psychiatric institution where she is currently held, asked for different medication and complained of her shock therapy treatments.
Marchand said the file will be turned over to the review board to determine the next step for Harris.
The event triggered a call for more staff including security personnel at the 44-bed tertiary care unit which deals with complex patient needs. In 2013, there were 64 reported incidents of physical violence at the centre. Dr. Robert Halpenny, the president and CEO of Interior Health, said the centre would have 24-hour security from a non-uniformed member.
Two days after the assault, Health Minister Terry Lake said he would work with the B.C. Nurses' Union for a new model of care.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Glynn Brothen at gbrothen@infonews.ca, or call 250-319-7494. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015