One of West Virginia's two state-run hospitals for people with mental illness has eased its immediate overcrowding problem, but as The Associated Press' Tom Breen reports, "a long-term solution remains elusive."
"The state Bureau for Behavioral Health and Health Facilities said it had made efforts to find places in private hospitals for patients at Mitchell-Bateman, a process known as diversion which the bureau expects will cost about $8 million this year," the article said. "Overcrowding at Mitchell-Bateman and William R. Sharpe Hospital in Weston, which has 150 beds, has been a problem for years."
An ombudsman's report helped highlight the crisis, but Breen reports that a lack of consensus is hampering any step toward a lasting solution.
"Last week, members of the union representing employees at Mitchell-Bateman rallied in front of the hospital to demand higher pay and an end to scheduling practices that occasionally have them working 16-hour shifts," the article said. "West Virginia Advocates, which works on behalf of West Virginians with disabilities, argues that overcrowding comes from a lack of community-based mental health services."
Update: MetroNews and Public Broadcasting also have items.
24 July 2008
Mental Health Care in W.Va.
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3 comments:
You know, what is sad about all of this is that we have heard this SO many times before, and they NEVER do anything permanent. Now, that being said, this time, with UE being involved, with us the employees taking this public, with the Ombudsman involved, this MAY change. However, after ten years of watching them lie to everyone in their path, I will be forced to wait and see. Until then, I will be using my constitutional rights to petition my delegates and anyone else that will listen on behalf of our patients and our staff who all deserve better. Jeff Watson
thanks Jeff for bringing my attention to this. I also will be joining Jeff. I took this job to care for my patients and could lose it in a second for abuse to a patient, but the very people in charge of making sure these patients get the care they need are abusing them by forcing us to take the patients and overcrowding us. WE the Staff of Bateman are mainly concerned about getting rid of the managment that abuses the staff and causes the harsh work invironment that affects the patients, in my oppinion that is patient abuse. these patients are not stupid, they see the staff falling over tired, they worry about us. they see us upset and even though we can't tell them why we are upset, they still know we are upset and therefore that is patient abuse. Get rid of the managment there, get managment from outside, then the staff can breath easier and the patients can too.
It is very sad that such things are happening these days.We cant blame the staff, they cant help when it is overcrowded they become tired.Patients are also facing problem with this.Management will have to to take this issue seriously and do some thing.
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Ann
Virginia Alcohol Addiction Treatment
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