Upper Shore Community Mental Health Center, the only public psychiatric care facility serving Kent and Queen Anne’s counties, locked its doors on Sunday.
The 200 patients are all gone. Most of the staff has found some work elsewhere.
The Circuit Court of Dorchester County ruled against the Center Friday in its last-ditch effort to overturn the Board of Public Works decision to save money by shutting down psychiatric care in this area.
Walter Palmer, a Denton attorney and center trustee, had filed for an injunction to halt the closure, arguing that the Board had exceeded its authority by cutting Upper Shore’s budget by more than the 25 percent that state regulations allow.
The court ruled that, no, the 25 percent limit applied to the whole budget of Maryland’s Department of Hygiene and Mental health, so the $1.7 million in cuts, which singled out Upper Shore, were within the guidelines.
Administrator Laurie Lowry said that about 70 staff members had found other work. She said that leaves about 20, mainly direct care workers and aides, who had not.
“Although the numbers sound good, I would not want to be among one of those 20,” Lowry said.
The picture isn’t very good even for those who found work. As Lowry explains, “Some have taken parttime jobs, some contractural jobs, or paycuts, or traveling a great distance. Even for those who found employment, it’s a hardship.”
And Chestertown as a whole will suffer for it, even beyond having no place near for the care of mentally disturbed residents.
“We will be paying less taxes, we will be buying less. We will be affecting the economy in Kent and Queen Anne’s counties,” she said.
There’s one thing to be happy for – and maybe only that. Lowry said the staff, in its last days, were able to find places for all their patients.
Marge says
And how far now are the relocated patients from their families?