Grand Jury tours psychiatric health facility: ‘Our county can do better’
–The 2017-2018 San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury toured the Psychiatric Health Facility (PHF), inspected the physical plant, and reviewed the Behavioral Health’s current processes and procedures.
This report was originated by the Grand Jury members based upon citizen complaints and recent events concerning the treatment of Behavioral Health patients within SLO County.
This was the first inspection of the PHF by the San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury in recent years. The facility resides in the old County hospital complex which has been closed as a hospital for approximately fifteen years. The 16-bed facility did not contain dedicated spaces for therapy, physical exercise, or other treatments.
The PHF is an antiquated facility that does not meet the crisis needs of the county’s mentally ill population. A new psychiatric health facility is recommended with sufficient capacity for patient treatment and recovery.
The full transcript of Grand Jury reports is at http://www.slocourts.net/grand_jury/. This website also provides information on how to apply to become a Grand Juror. It also has the “Grand Jury Citizen Complaint Form” available for the public to submit complaints regarding county issues to the Grand Jury.
