The state's attempt to move patients from the West Seneca Children's Psychiatric Center to a different facility in Buffalo has been temporarily halted by a judge.
The court ordered Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mental Health Commissioner Anne Marie Sullivan to temporarily cease all construction and related activities in their plan to move the Western New York Children's Psychiatric Center.
This order comes following a lawsuit filed last week by the Coalition to Save the Children's Psychiatric Center. The group says moving patients to the Buffalo Psychiatric Center puts children at risk. It says the move is opposed by staff, families, former patients, community groups and elected officials at the town, county and state levels who all cite medical and safety issues.
The state argues the children would be completely separate and secure from Buffalo Psychiatric patients and the move is necessary to save millions of dollars. It also says the move will allow them to expand the mental health care system.
