VSEA Frontline State Hospital Workers Were Correct To Question State’s Decision In 2012 To Build New Hospital With Just 25 Beds

“Dr. Robert Pierattini also describes the difficulty his staff is having handling some of the individuals in acute crisis who are being brought to them for care. He explains that these are not patients that can be treated in ‘outpatient settings based in a community, and he cautions that the number of beds Vermont is planning to build won’t be enough to accommodate the anticipated need.’”

“[Then VSEA President John] Reese reminded that while VSEA is welcoming the building of a new State Hospital, the union and its VSH members still have concerns that the redesigned mental health system will not provide enough acute-care beds. Working with a broad coalition of mental health advocates and care providers during the last legislative session, VSEA successfully advocated to increase the proposed number of acute beds at that the new state hospital from 16 to 25. Reese notes ‘While VSEA is excited to move forward with the 25 bed facility, we agree with the position of the Vermont Psychiatric Association and Dr. Jay Batra, who just left his position as VSH’s medical director, that 25 beds is inadequate.’”

View 2012 "Vermonters For Quality Health Care" press conference, warning about many of the problems being highlighted today.