Metal detectors coming to Dartmouth General Hospital

CITYnews halifax / By Chris Halef

New security measures are coming to the Dartmouth General Hospital’s emergency department.

Starting this week, visitors will be screened with hand-held metal detectors and personal belongings may be searched for weapons or dangerous objects.

This follows similar measures Nova Scotia Health announced last month that a walk-through metal detector would be installed at the the Halifax Infirmary’s emergency department entrance.

Related:

• Man charged with attempted murder after 4 workers attacked at QEII ER

NSH later expanded security at that emergency department, requiring visitors to wear badges.

Officials said these measures are aimed at keeping patients, families, and staff safe, but say that emergency care won’t be delayed for those needing urgent attention.

This all comes after a 32-year-old patient stabbed two people and injured two others at the QEII’s emergency department late in January.