Dept. of Mental Health Places Cap on Westwood Lodge Patients

After continues patient escapes from Westwood Lodge during the past several weeks and months, the hospital on Clapboardtree Street has been required by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health to cap the number of patients it houses to 75.

The move, which takes effect immediately, was announced in a statement by State Sen. Mike Rush (D-West Roxbury) and State Rep. Paul McMurtry (D-Dedham) Friday afternoon.

The cap of 75 patients is to remain in place until the DMH has completed reviewing and has approved the town’s plans to increase security at the hospital.

While the issue of patient escapes and safety has been an ongoing issues at the hospital, the two most recent incidents in January and Febraury prompted Rush and McMurtry to request and hold a meeting with DMH Commissioner Marcia Fowler.

According to Friday’s announcement, Fowler and her staff responded to the concerns and notified Westwood Lodge that the department would issue the cap of in-patients at the hospital.

The cap would help lower the number of patients who reside overnight; the hospital currently operates with 89 beds in place.

“I want to commend Commissioner Fowler for her unprecedented decision to cap the number of patients at the facility,” Rush said in Friday's statement. “This decision will allow Westwood Lodge to have a higher ratio of staff to patients.  We are also currently looking into addressing the community’s concerns about this facility, and similar ones throughout the state, through legislative action.  Public and patient safety are our top priorities. We look forward to continue to work with town officials and the Westwood Lodge administration to prevent any further elopements.”

Said McMurtry, “I commend Fowler for her swift and decisive action in the combined best interest of both patient safety and public safety. I look forward to continued co-operation and prompt action to restore this important resource for individuals in need, while keeping the community safe.”