Psychiatric hospital: Decline of Western State unconscionable

Re: “Psychiatric facility to open wards to reduce violence,’” (TNT, 1/26).

It is with righteous indignation that all of us should be appalled at the deterioration of Western State Hospital.

Why were violent patients allowed to coexist with those who were non-violent? Why has it taken so long, and 470 assault-related injuries against patients and staff in 2019, to begin rectifying this problem?

There will always be a need for a state-of-the-art mental hospital serving this community. By ignoring the maintenance because Gov. Jay Inslee and others envision its closure and replacement with community-based facilities is both economically and morally unsound. It will take several years to implement this plan.

Meanwhile, Washington has forfeited $53 million from the federal government and probably millions more in staff lawsuits. This is an unconscionable tragedy.

This story was originally published February 8, 2020 at 1:06 PM with the headline "Psychiatric hospital: Decline of Western State unconscionable."