The independent, third-party review of Saskatchewan’s health care safety and security begins today.

A release from the Province says concerns raised by staff and patients and an increasing volume and complexity of Protective Services interventions has prompted the need for a system-wide comprehensive review.

The Ministry of Health has contracted Buckingham Security Services Ltd., to perform the review under the leadership of its executive director, Clive Weighill.

Weighill is the former chief of the Saskatoon Police Service, and he also served as Saskatchewan’s chief coroner.

The review is expected to take about six months, and it will include the examination of current practices, site visits to SHA facilities, meetings with First Nations and Metis organizations, and recommendations to help improve safety for patients, visitors and staff.

The release notes that the review does not include “activities beyond the scope of security provided by protective services officers.” These include triage at emergency units, medical diagnosis and treatment, surgery wait times or general administration within the health system. It also will not review “detailed investigations of individual incidents, current investigations and processes currently underway or already completed.”

Individuals with lived experiences relevant to the security review may also email safety@buckinghamsecurity.com to provide input.