Halifax Infirmary emergency department to install metal detector: NS Health

CITYnews halifax / By Chris Halef

Nova Scotia Health announced new security measures that will be coming to the Halifax Infirmary emergency department following last month’s violent incident.

Starting Friday, anyone entering the department will have to go through a metal detector and anything that’s deemed a weapon or something that could be used as a weapon will be confiscated.

NS Health said people coming to the emergency department should expect delays as these new measures are implemented, adding discretion will be used by security if a patient arriving needs urgent and immediate care.

Related:

• 3 employees injured by patient after weapons call at Halifax hospital
• Man charged with attempted murder after 4 workers attacked at QEII ER

This all comes after a 32-year-old patient stabbed two people and injured two others in the emergency department late last month.

They say one of the victims suffered “significant” injuries.

Officers were called Jan. 30 after reports of a man with a knife at the hospital around 1:00 p.m.

Officers arrested Nicholas Robert Coulombe who faces one count of attempted murder, three counts of assault with a weapon, three counts of aggravated assault and two counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

In a press conference after the attack, a leader with the union representing health workers at the hospital says “for years” her members have been calling for more security measures in the ER.