By the end of this week Pierce County will lose 16 beds at Western State Hospital that help people with psychiatric and mental health emergencies.
That is one-fourth of the total number of beds available in the county.
In Pierce County, there’s already a shortage of beds to help the mentally ill.
Kelly Stowe, a spokesperson with the State Department of Social and Health Services said Telecare, which leases out the space, was informed more than a year ago that they would needed to find a new space, because Western State needs to accommodate an influx of psychiatric patients charged with crimes who are waiting for evaluation.
Telecare says it has found a space in Milton to open up a new facility with 16 beds, but it be another year before it opens.
Some state leaders say it’s a blow to a county already struggling to provide mental health care to those in need.
“It’s just a tragedy frankly that we couldn’t come up with a solution,” said State Sen. Steve O’Ban, who heads up the state’s mental health committee. “Losing a quarter of our inpatient beds is only going to increase dramatically those who are going to wait in emergency rooms in Pierce County.”
