The North Bay Regional Health Centre’s VP of Mental Health says Friday’s patient escape involving a 20-year-old man who fled using a stolen North Bay Hydro truck is under review by the hospital.
“Any incidents that may occur are reviewed for ongoing learning and improvement opportunities,” Tanya Nixon, the VP of Mental Health said in a statement to BayToday.ca.
“Some of our existing processes include clinical policies and procedures that allow our care teams to both assess, and manage, a patient’s risk to self and others. This includes regular and frequent review of individualized patient care plans and potential risk factors.
“Our security personnel are included as part of our clinical team and use a wide variety of best practice security measures.”
Police say the man kicked open a security door, pulled the fire alarm, and then kicked open a second security door before fleeing the hospital on foot on Friday afternoon.
The patient then stole an unoccupied North Bay Hydro truck that was parked on the north side of the hospital where hydro service work was being done.
While driving away, he struck a parked jeep, before travelling westbound on Highway 17 West.
OPP stopped the vehicle and arrested him in Wahnapitae at 2:30 last Friday afternoon.
He was taken to the North Bay Police Service headquarters, where he was charged a number of offences including Mischief under $5,000.
“We are thankful to our partners at the North Bay Police Service for their assistance in this most recent situation,” stated Nixon.
“While these occurrences happen rarely at our Health Centre, the subsequent team response and risk mitigation strategies are key in such situations.”
See original story: Psychiatric patient escapes, steals hydro truck.
