Charlotte, N.C. – Mayor Pat McCrory today wrote to Gov. Mike Easley, Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight and House Speaker Joe Hackney to urge them to keep Dorothea Dix Hospital open and adequately staffed for another year.  McCrory argued this would give the state’s next governor the opportunity to implement necessary mental health reforms.  Below is the text of his letter:

“With problems surrounding mental health reform escalating, the administration appears to be implementing changes without proper planning.  As a result, hundreds of millions of dollars are being misspent, poor medical treatment is being given to mental health patients, and concerns are rising for the safety of patients and staff in state mental facilities.

 

“It was reported on June 21 that a patient beat a nurse in the forensics unit of Dorothea Dix Hospital.  It is unacceptable to inadequately supervise patients who are among the most violent being treated at Dix.  Closing Dix without adequately preparing for handling forensics patients in a secure hospital environment is dangerous for patients, health care workers, and the public.

 

“I’m writing to ask you to keep Dorothea Dix hospital open and properly staffed for another year.   This will give the next governor a chance to evaluate its closing and recommend the best way to address the growing scandal in mental health programs. 

 

“During a June 2 news conference in front of the Legislative Building, I called on the legislature to keep Dix open for another year.  I am now calling on you to personally intercede on behalf of the patients, staff, and the public.  I understand that a version of the budget has passed the House and the Senate and is now before a joint conference committee to reconcile the two versions.  However, inaction during this session could result in tying the hands of the next governor. 

 

“This past week the Wake County Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the N.C. Sheriff Alliance, the N.C. Public Service Workers Union, and a Dix psychologist wrote the legislature requesting Dix be kept open for another year.  On Friday, hospital workers again marched on the office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services seeking a delay in the closure.

 

“I believe that the present problems are not a result of the legislatively passed reforms to provide local care for mental health patients.  The scandal is a result of poor planning and implementation of the reforms.  The next governor should be given the opportunity to bring new leadership to this area.”