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Local Health Board petitions By Erin O'Connor, Staff Writer
WEST SPRINGFIELD Members of the City's Board of Health agreed at their May 16 meeting, to write a letter to Commissioner Elizabeth Childs, MD, of the Department of Mental Health that would declare their support for additional funding for Providence Behavioral Health Hospital
"We the Board decided to draft a letter of support to the Commissioner to give them [Providence] what they requested $6 million, to cover costs for this year," Jeanne Galloway, director of public health said to Reminder Publications. "If we can't keep Providence functioning we will have a larger burden on other hospitals."
According to Galloway, the letter is currently being drafted and then will be submitted to Dr. David Kelley of the Board for review.
"Dr. Kelley presented the idea and will try to work with other Boards of Health in Massachusetts," Galloway said.
The letter is expected to be completed within a two week period.
"Any citizens in the community seeking drug and mental health treatment would have to go some place further away," Galloway said if Providence was closed.
"Some local hospitals would have space in them but my understanding is the closest hospital is in Burlington, Vermont," she added.
According to Galloway, other boards in the state have not involved themselves with supporting Providence because they are waiting for an initial draft letter to come out.
Childs toured Providence on May. 4. Officials said the hospital will close unless it receives $6 million in state aid.
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