The Manitoba government is boosting hospital safety measures across the province. The initiatives reflect ongoing consultations with front-line staff and health-care unions.

“Our government is implementing a layered approach shaped by what health-care workers have asked for, including tools like the SAFE app, trained institutional safety officers and stronger access controls to create safer environments for both staff and patients,” announced Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara.

The SAFE mobile app, now implemented at St. Boniface Hospital, Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg and Brandon Regional Health Centre, provides staff with real-time safety alerts, a direct connection to security services, emergency notifications and personal safety tools within a single mobile platform to improve communication and situational awareness. Manitoba is currently the only health system in Canada using an integrated mobile safety alert platform of this kind to support front-line staff.

The government has also hired 128 fully funded institutional safety officers who receive specialized training in crisis intervention, de-escalation and emergency response.

Amnesty lockers have been installed at select facilities, including Thompson General Hospital and Swan River Hospital. The lockers offer secure storage at entry points to reduce the risk of prohibited items entering hospitals, alongside stronger monitored access points, expanded surveillance systems and enhanced emergency communication tools as part of a layered strategy.

At Health Sciences Centre, safety upgrades include AI-enabled weapons detection systems, expanded CCTV monitoring, enhanced cellular connectivity to eliminate communication dead zones, improved tunnel and parkade safety features, additional panic alarms and increased collaboration with Winnipeg Police Service through on-site presence and joint patrols.

In northern Manitoba, facilities have introduced co-ordinated regional safety leadership for the first time, including the hiring of a regional security manager in December 2025. This occurred alongside a larger emergency department security presence, secure monitored entry points and more efficient emergency protocols.

Across Prairie Mountain Health facilities, safety enhancements include workplace violence prevention programming, safe-walk programs for staff and visitors, improved visitor registration processes, more security patrols and regular staff safety huddles that help identify risks and inform ongoing improvements.