The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority says allegations that two care aides had abused 15 residents of a privately owned Winnipeg personal care home came to light thanks to two whistleblowers, but that the authority only learned of the allegations four months after the facility was made aware.
The abuse allegedly took place at Extendicare Oakview Place in Winnipeg's Sturgeon Heights neighbourhood, the health authority said Tuesday afternoon.
The allegations were first brought to attention of local Extendicare management through a whistleblower in February, the health authority said.
However, the WRHA was not informed until it was approached directly by another whistleblower on June 10, according to a news release.
"We are deeply disturbed and disappointed by these serious allegations and the process the facility initially took to investigate the concerns," Gina Trinidad, the health authority's chief operating officer for community health services and long-term care, said at a Tuesday afternoon news conference.
Trinidad says the Winnipeg Police Service is in the early stages of a criminal investigation and the care aides have been put on paid leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
The province of Manitoba's Protection for Persons in Care Office, which investigates reports of abuse, will also discuss a further review.
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