Niagara Health fully participated in the coroner’s inquest into the death of Heather Winterstein. The jury determined the manner of Heather’s death to be accidental, and we respect the jury’s role in reaching that finding.
We accept the jury’s recommendations and see them as an important roadmap for system‑level improvement. We are encouraged that many of the recommendations build on work already underway to improve the care and experience of Indigenous patients and their families within our hospitals.
Our focus now is on implementation. Niagara Health will move forward in a careful and deliberate way, informed by clinical evidence, established standards and policies, collective agreements, and our legislative and regulatory obligations, including the professional standards governing nurses and physicians. This work will involve frontline staff, physicians and Indigenous partners and will be guided by patient safety and quality of care.
We recognize the profound loss experienced by Heather Winterstein’s family and the continued impact of her death. We acknowledge the advocacy and participation of the family throughout the inquest process and the role they have played in advancing important conversations about care, equity and safety.
Niagara Health remains committed to our ongoing journey toward reconciliation. As shared during the inquest, we know that systemic racism exists in healthcare, and addressing it is essential to improving safety, trust and outcomes for Indigenous patients and their families. We are grateful for the opportunity to continue learning and to strengthen the care we provide for all who rely on our hospitals.
