The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is expanding the use of metal detectors in urban emergency departments as part of efforts to improve hospital safety and security.
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Metal detectors were installed this week at emergency departments in Saskatoon and Regina. Installation took place Monday at St. Paul’s Hospital and Saskatoon City Hospital, and Tuesday at Regina General Hospital and Pasqua Hospital.
Additional metal detectors are scheduled to be deployed in February at Prince Albert Victoria Hospital, Battlefords Union Hospital and the Regina Urgent Care Centre.
Metal detection is already in place at the joint emergency department entrance at Royal University Hospital and Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon.
“Hospitals should be safe places for our patients, visitors and the health-care teams who provide care every day,” SHA CEO Andrew Will said in a statement. “Safety is a core value of the SHA, and we are committed to strengthening hospital safety and security.”
Will said the expansion will support protective services staff and help keep weapons out of emergency departments.
The SHA ordered additional metal detectors in December following what it described as a successful pilot project at the Saskatoon joint emergency department entrance.
The authority says violence in health-care settings is unacceptable and that metal detection is one of several measures being used to enhance safety for patients, visitors and staff.
Deployment schedule
Saskatoon
- Royal University Hospital / Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital (shared emergency department entrance) – metal detector operational
- St. Paul’s Hospital – installation occurred Monday, January 19, 2026
- Saskatoon City Hospital – installation occurred Monday, January 19, 2026
Regina
- Regina General Hospital – installation occurred Tuesday, January 20, 2026
- Pasqua Hospital – installation occurred Tuesday, January 20, 2026
- Regina Urgent Care Centre – installation February 2026
Additional sites
- Prince Albert Victoria Hospital – installation February 2026
- Battlefords Union Hospital – installation February 2026
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