Woman charged in alleged breach of Surrey, B.C., hospital’s neonatal care unit

SURREY — A 35-year-old woman has been arrested and charged in connection to a breach in the Surrey, B.C., hospital neonatal intensive care unit in October.

The Surrey Police Service said Monday that Lindsey Hirtreiter now faces three assault charges and remains in custody pending her appearance in court on Monday.

Police said in a release that the woman is accused of making contact with infants after gaining unauthorized access to the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit.

The service had sent out photos of a suspect in the case last week, asking for the public’s help in identifying the person believed to have entered the unit without permission on Oct. 28 at Surrey Memorial Hospital.

A publication ban has been placed on some aspects of the case.

B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne responded to the breach during question period in the legislature on Monday, saying that what is alleged is “extremely distressing.”

Osborne said the Fraser Health authority has already updated its safety protocols in response to the breach, and authorities are looking into the case to make sure it does not happen again.

“I’m glad to know that parents have been contacted, and obviously, they are deeply concerned, as would anybody be,” Osborne said during a separate news conference on Monday.

She said police and Fraser Health are responding as expected.

The police service said it was unable to provide additional information on the case, as it is now before the courts.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 1, 2025.