Update: In Provincial Court –

Judge Gale Sinclair ordered a psychiatric assessment for Gregory Stanley Nield, and for him to be held for a maximum of 30 days at the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Coquitlam.

His next court appearance by video is scheduled for January 7th.

“On Friday, one of our physicians was involved in a serious incident while providing care to a patient in the Psychiatric Department at Penticton Regional Hospital. Staff took immediate action to respond to this incident and to focus their efforts on securing the safety of patients, requesting the assistance of the RCMP and providing medical care to our physician. The patient involved was taken into police custody.

“Our physician was injured during this incident, and our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family as he begins his recovery. The unidentified doctor was badly beaten and is being treated in a Kelowna Hospital.

“I can’t speak to the details due to the need to protect the patient and the physician’s privacy, and recognizing there is police involvement. What I can tell you is that Interior Health will be working with the RCMP and WorkSafe BC to conduct a full review and investigation of this incident.

“Interior Health takes the safety of all our staff, including physicians, as a top priority. We strive to minimize any risks to staff, physicians and patients, but that is not always possible even with all of our safeguards recognizing patient behaviour can be unpredictable. We remain committed to working with our physicians, nurses and staff to debrief this incident and seek lessons learned in order to provide the safest working environment possible while balancing the need to provide quality health care.”

In court Tuesday in Penticton – Gregory Stanley Nield, born 1983, charged with Assault Causing Bodily Harm and a second count of Aggravated Assault. He is noted as a Summerland massage therapist.

It has been learned that Nield is a trained martial arts champion and was known to the doctor.

BCNU President Gayle Duteil says the incident once again highlights the dangerous lack of security in BC’s psychiatric and forensic facilities and demanding Interior Health launch an investigation and immediately provide:

• Personal alarms
• Security specifically assigned to psychiatric units
• Security cameras
• Assurances the patient will not be returned to the unit
• That if the patient is sent to another site, a risk assessment and safety plan must be put in place, along with additional trained staff and security prior to transfer

Duteil says “Does someone have to die before the health authority starts providing basic safety measures such as personal alarms in forensic and psychiatric facilities?”