MOOSOMIN — The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and the Saskatchewan RCMP have responded to recommendations that came out of a recent public coroner's inquest into the 2022 death of Karen Joy Ireland in Moosomin.
The inquest began March 30 and continued until a six-person jury made a series of recommendations April 2, including four recommendations for the SHA and eight more for the RCMP. Ireland was found dead on Nov. 23, 2022, a day after she was taken to the Moosomin Southeast Integrated Care Centre (SEICC) by the RCMP.
In an email to SaskToday, the SHA said steps are already underway to install exterior security cameras at SEICC entrances. The work is expected to be completed this spring.
“SHA Protective Services will bring monitoring of security screens at the SEICC into alignment with provincial standards, including the installation of monitoring stations at two nursing stations," SHA said.
The SHA said it fully supports recommendation for annual staff reviews and sign-off sheets for review of all emergency codes, and is in the process of implementing this going forward. It is also investigating the recommendation of employing registered psychiatric nurses in rural areas.
In an email to SaskToday, the RCMP said the police force welcomes opportunities to review its procedures and policies to ensure front-line policing and operations continue to meet the highest standards of public service.
The recommendations are taken “very seriously”, the RCMP said, and are currently under review by Criminal Operations Unit.
“Although some of the recommendations, such as body and dashboard cameras, are implemented in existing procedures, each recommendation will be researched thoroughly with the appropriate stakeholders," the RCMP said.
Once the review is complete, the Saskatchewan RCMP said it will provide a full, written response directly that will be available as public record on the Saskatchewan Coroners Service's website.
Background: According to a Government of Saskatchewan news release, Ireland was taken to the SEICC by the RCMP under the Mental Health Services Act on Nov. 22, 2022.
The news release adds she was admitted, placed in a secure room and allowed to go outside unsupervised. Ireland was last seen by hospital staff while sitting in the building's front foyer at approximately 7 a.m. the following day.
A short time later, staff noticed she was not in her room or outside, and a missing person's report was issued. At approximately 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 23, she was found dead outside, about 550 meters from the care centre. She was 50 at the time of her death.
The inquest report said Ireland’s death was accidental from hypothermia due to environmental exposure.
