Court-ordered psychiatric hospital expansion nixed

SEATTLE – The head of the Washington state health services agency said Tuesday concerns about safety at Western State Hospital, the state’s largest psychiatric facility, have led him to end all expansion until they can hire more staff.

Kevin Quigley, the secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services, sent a letter to hospital staff saying their inability to fill vacancies has kept the facility from providing quality care and treatment. He said the problem stems from a recent federal ruling that requires the state to provide timely competency services to mentally ill defendants. Quigley said they’ve tried to meet the court’s deadline but now believes they can’t safely achieve that goal. The new wards were spreading the staff too thin and raising safety concerns.

In a statement Tuesday evening DSHS said the results from an investigation by federal authorities this week have “officially placed the hospital in jeopardy of losing its Medicare certification.” That could mean a loss of federal funds for Western.

The 800-plus bed hospital has been under fire by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for failing to protect staff and patients.