Armed patient allegedly injures three hospital staff in Halifax emergency room

HALIFAX — Three hospital employees were injured in what Nova Scotia’s health minister says was an armed assault by a patient Wednesday afternoon at the Halifax Infirmary emergency department.

Halifax police say they responded to a weapons complaint at the hospital and took one person into custody. Two sources said the weapon used was a knife, but they could not confirm how many of the injured were stabbed.

“Three valuable staff at (Halifax Infirmary) were injured today by a patient in the emergency room,” Health Minister Michelle Thompson told a news conference.

Thompson said that at around 1 p.m. the hospital declared a Code Silver, used when there is a risk to safety due to someone who is armed with a weapon. “We’re very concerned and very sorry that this happened,” she said.

Sandra Mullen, president of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union, said two of the union’s members were injured, with one requiring in-patient care and the other having less serious injuries.

“They were seriously injured in a violent workplace injury today,” she said in an interview. “We’ll be following up to see what support we can offer during their recovery.”

“For years we’ve been warning that a serious incident like this could happen, and we’ve been calling on the employers to take action on their safety concerns about violence and mental health issues in the workplace,” Mullen said. “We have been saying this incident could happen, and here we are today.”

She said one of the injured union members works in support services and the other is part of “the health team,” adding that neither are nurses. Mullen declined to provide further details on their jobs.

“We understand one person is in critical (care) and being attended to … and the other two injuries are not as serious,” she said. The third person was not a member of her union, and she couldn’t confirm what their position is.

Mullen said that in addition to those injured, she is concerned about the wider impact of the incident. “There is no doubt that nurses and administrative professionals were witness to this. So, we are reaching out to all of our members on the unit,” she said.

Brendan Elliott, a spokesman for Nova Scotia Health, said in an email that there are contracted security guards throughout the hospital around the clock, including a “constant presence” in the emergency department.

Police remained on site Wednesday afternoon, Thompson said, and for several hours services were restricted to critical emergencies and trauma patients.

“That area is now a crime scene, and we do need to allow (police) to do their work, and we will work with them closely and bring service back as soon as we’re able,” she said. Shortly after 6 p.m., Nova Scotia Health announced that normal operations had resumed.

A memo sent to hospital staff by Nova Scotia Health CEO Karen Oldfield said the incident at the ER has “left many shaken.”

Thompson said there are staff on site providing support to the hospital workers and patients who witnessed the event.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 29, 2025.

Lyndsay Armstrong and Michael Tutton, The Canadian Press