UW Medical Center Describes ​“Extraordinarily Difficult Time” Amid Potential Cuts and Closures

Speaking to the regents meeting Wednesday, three nurses from the psychiatric unit said they were grateful for the temporary reprieve. However, while UW says the new unit will be similar to Seven North, nurses worry the new beds at Northwest Hospital may not in fact serve the same clients as the current unit. In particular, nurses told the regents they worry about women with high-risk pregnancies, who can currently seek both mental health and obstetrics care at Seven North. They also raised concerns about access to mental health care beds for UW students.

The current plans “will harm students, high risk patients, and the community,” one nurse said. “We have a responsibility to students and their parents to do everything we can to safeguard their lives.”