Province expands forensic nurse examiner program

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This article was published 07/04/2022 (1290 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dedicated nursing services for sexual assault survivors will be expanded to three rural and northern communities, after demand jumped during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Progressive Conservative government announced Thursday it will spend $640,000 annually to add five nurses and a provincial co-ordinator to oversee its new forensic nurse examiner program.

According to the province, the program will build on the pre-existing sexual assault nurse examiner program at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, which will become a provincial hub as satellite sites are established in Brandon, The Pas and Thompson.

“The program will provide equitable and timely responses for adults who are survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence, allowing them to remain closer to their support network during a traumatic moment in their lives,” Health Minister Audrey Gordon said.

Last year, 688 people received treatment through the program at HSC, which provides sexual assault and intimate partner violence survivors access to medical care, counselling, community resources and support to file a police report, if they choose.

Jennifer Cumptsy, executive director of acute services at HSC, said that number has steadily grown over the years.

“Evidence shows survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence of all genders need specialized care when reporting to a hospital after a traumatic episode,” Cumptsy said. “This is to make sure that we’re able to deliver that safe and comprehensive care to all.”

The expanded forensic nurse examiner program is scheduled to launch between late 2022 and early 2023.

Families Minister Rochelle Squires said the expansion means survivors will receive urgent and ongoing care closer to their home, as intimate partner violence has worsened through the pandemic.

Currently, people needing a forensic exam — which can include documentation of injuries, testing and treatment for infections or injuries, and evidence collection — have to travel to Winnipeg.

Nurses currently practising in Brandon, The Pas and Thompson will be able to take training to become forensic examiners. Meantime, the provincial hub will provide tele-health services for rural and remote communities without a trained nurse.

“To have sexual assault nurse examiners close to a victim, wherever they might experience the violence, is so critical,” Squires said. “So that victim does not have to travel very far, or wait very long to have an examination, and that they can start their healing journey as soon as possible.”

Squires said the Tory government is working with community partners and has introduced initiatives in response to the escalation in sexual and intimate partner violence, including providing $400,000 to the North End Women’s Centre’s transitional housing program. More initiatives are expected in the upcoming provincial budget, she said.

NDP health critic Uzoma Asagwara said living in rural and northern Manitoba has been a barrier to forensic nursing services for too long, with nurses, politicians and others advocating for change for years.

“It’s an important recognition that no matter where you live in the province you should have equitable access to health care, especially health care that is tied to an incredibly traumatic and harmful, violent experience that is sexual assault,” Asagwara said.

However, the MLA for Union Station said the expansion must not threaten the funding and services currently provided at the HSC.

The province has also hired consulting firm Deloitte to review women’s health models used in other provinces and countries to recommend improvements for Manitoba, Gordon said. Findings and recommendations are expected this spring.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca