COALINGA (KMJ) — Patients at Coalinga State Hospital are planning a protest inside the facility, amid claims of abuse and frightened staff.
“It’s a toxic environment,” explained patient Jeffrey Gambord. His complaints are focused on the sexually violent predator program,; figures from the Department of State Hospitals shows 73% of those inside are classified as SVP. He directs blame towards the entire California legislature. It’s hoped the demonstration, set to take place in the next six weeks, will force a review of the facility.
“Patients can’t get medical care in a timely manner, patients are giving up [their] life because they don’t see a way out of the hospital. The treatment programs are not operating effectively. Staff are leaving the facility in droves.”
Gambord, who is also the director of CSHabuse.com (click here), is calling on Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula to act.
“We have to get a handle on what’s happening here. This is a state program, this is not a district issue, and Joaquin Arambula is refusing to even look at what’s happening here.
“They would not be saying that if this was death row.”
KMJ News reached out to the office of Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula, but he did not wish to comment.
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
