One of the key questions at a Coroner's Inquest, was whether Ronalda Wescoup could have been saved had she been sent to a hospital rather than a jail cell. (Submitted/Ron Bruce)

By Nigel Maxwell

Corrections

Government and opposition respond to Jury’s 12 recommendations

Apr 8, 2022 | 5:00 PM

A jury’s 12 recommendations to improve mental health supports and the overall safety of inmates at Pine Grove will soon be in the hands of the provincial government.

Earlier this week, the Coroner’s inquest into the death of Ronalda Wescoup wrapped up at Prince Albert’s Coronet Hotel. The 40-year-old woman from Saskatoon was remanded to Pine Grove on June 4th, 2019, and found unresponsive in her cell less than four hours later. She was pronounced deceased in hospital an hour later. The cause of death was a cardiac arrest; attributed to alcohol withdrawal.

According to a statement provided to paNOW from the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety, the governments extends its sincerest condolences to the family of Ronalda Wescoup.

“We thank the Coroners Service, the inquest jury and everyone who participated in these proceedings. The ministry will review the recommendations once formally received and will provide a response to the office of the Chief Coroner,” the statement said.

Among the jury’s recommendations was for an emergency assistance button to be located within arms reach of an inmate lying in their bed; the establishment of a detox facility at the jail; and to have an addictions worker present when a person goes through intake.

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One of the key witnesses at the inquest, a nurse who assessed Wescoup, was quite emotional when she described a lack of communication between the time someone is arrested, placed in police cells, and then taken to Pine Grove. The jury recommended the establishment of a comprehensive database between facilities to ensure no one is left in the dark or left guessing about a patient’s medical history.

Speaking with paNOW, Nicole Sauer, the NDP critic for Corrections, Policing and Public Safety, said all inquests are a tragedy and should never have to happen. Applauding the jury’s work, Sauer expressed her concern that the recommendations will get put on a shelf and collect dust.

“Doing everything we can within our facilities to ensure that those who are sent into those facilities can detox safely and hopefully receive the treatment needed so that they don’t fall into addictions again when they leave the facility is incredibly important and should be the number one priority for the ministry,” she said.

Sauer explained she most excited to see the recommendation related to a dedicated detox facility and is hoping it gets implemented immediately, not just at Pine Grove but at all Saskatchewan jails.

Wescoup’s father has promised to follow up with the government to ensure the recommendations get implemented.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell