Hospital
Closure Fight Comes to Trenton
A hearing will be held on Thursday, April 1 to determine
the fate of the twenty bed inpatient psychiatric unit at
Valley Hospital in Ridgewood . The State Health Planning
Board will meet at 9:30 AM at the Department of Health Auditorium
in Trenton to hear the Valley request to close their psychiatric
unit to make way for more medical/surgical beds that the
hospital administration claims are more financially lucrative.
In spite of dangerous overcrowding at state and county
psychiatric hospitals and the recent deaths of two inmates
with mental illness who were incarcerated in county jails
rather than being appropriately hospitalized, State officials
are seriously considering removing more beds from an already
stressed system. Valley is one of ten or more hospitals
that has closed or is considering closing their psychiatric
units.
ACTION NEEDED:
As many advocates as possible must attend the April 1 hearing
to let the State Health Planning Board know the dire consequences
that the closing of inpatient psychiatric units around the
state will have on consumers of mental health services.
§ In order to operate, hospitals have entered into
a social contract to serve the public good. They must keep
their bargain.
§ State and County hospitals are already dangerously
overcrowded
§ Jails and prisons have become the new psychiatric
hospitals because of the lack of appropriate hospital and
community services.
Directions to the hearing:
http://www.state.nj.us/health/directions.htm
Email Commissioner Lacey:
http://www.state.nj.us/health/commiss/contact.htm