Psychiatric facility set to close

Newington (WTNH) - The potential closing of a psychiatric facility for adults in Newington has employees and family members concerned about where the patients will end up. It is more fall out as the Rell Administration attempts to save money while tax receipts continue to dry up during the recession.

The 103 bed facility is almost always filled to capacity and the workers say that while attempting to consolidate the facility with Connecticut Valley Hospital in Middletown is the goal, the result will be more people with problems on the streets.

Employees at the state-run Cedar Crest Hospital, in Newington, say that some patients with mental health and substance abuse problems will end up on the streets and in trouble if the facility is closed.

"How [are] we going to rehab somebody in the community if they have access to drugs? How [are] we going to rehab somebody in the community who has access to alcohol? It doesn't make any sense," said Mental Health Assistant Tamara Cunningham.

"How can the Governor say 'let's close this down without all the answers to those questions and determining where the care is?' There's money in the budget, she should abide by the budget," said Speaker of the House Chris Donovan. " We made it clear on the floor of the House that no way did we intend to close Cedar Crest."

A spokesman for the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services said the current beds at Cedar Crest will be moved to Middletown and Bridgeport.

They are working on a transition plan for the State Office of Health Care Access which must approve this.