The Saskatchewan Health Authority says staff is working through safety concerns outlined by a group of psychiatrists after touring Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital.

Their letter to the authority listing safety concerns includes inadequate sight lines from nursing stations to rooms, access to potentially self-harming materials in unlocked storage cupboards and doors that could be barricaded easily.

The Executive Director of Maternal and Children’s Provincial Programming says safety walks continue with staff in charge of finding short and long term solutions.

Carrie Dornstauder says she is confident all of the concerns will be addressed before the facility opens on September 29th.

The SHA’s Vice President of Provincial Programs Corey Miller says mobile carts for nurses to work from will allow them to closely monitor patients at risk of harming themselves solving the sight line issue.

Dornstauder says they are also talking with the contractor about changes needed to prevent patients from using a vent in one room for a ligature.

She stresses they want to be thorough in finding solutions.

The Provincial Head of Pediatrics says other concerns were raised without knowing the processes that will be in place.

Dr. Ron Siemens points out pediatric emergency patients are always with family, security or a nurse and says supply cupboards will be locked in any room of an at risk patient.

The 6 a.m. unlocking of the Emergency Department’s doors on September 29th will mark the facility’s opening.