Workers, Lawmakers Rally To Save Allentown State Hospital
The rally cry has been sounded to save the Allentown State Hospital. A bipartisan group of elected officials joined dozens of state hospital workers in making a plea to Harrisburg Monday afternoon. >> REPORTER: The plea was to save the Allentown State Hospital. There's strong indication in Harrisburg that the Department of Welfare wants to shut the 97 year old facility down. But many today are pleading for a different outcome. Accompanied by words of support, the rally from these union workers and a host of elected officials is a plea to Harrisburg.
>> KAREN BEYER: A valuable asset, a valuable resource to Lehigh Valley.
>> REPORTER: The Department of Welfare is looking to dump the hospital due to the states budget crunch. Which would cost around 400 employees their jobs. But its patient care that matters most for those gathered outside the 97 year old facility. Long time nurse Fran Rekai says the effects of closing could be catastrophic for many of the hospitals 170 patients.
>> FRAN: They will get lost on the street be homeless or have to live in corners.
>> REPORTER: The state has said some patients would be moved to other locations, or sent to group homes..with a handful having to head to prison.
>> JOHN: If people have to go 50 miles one way to see loved one its a 100 mile trip which is a half day people won't be visited.
>> REPORTER: 61 year old Wayne Huegel says if it weren't for the Allentown State Hospital he never would have learned to play the organ or even survive. He credits the hospital for saving his life after spending two years there starting when he was 13... Huegel says prison run program..which many patients could be pushed too.. can't compare to a State Hospital.
>> WAYNE: You're in a cage. You need to move and you can do that in a State Hospital it's different than in prison.
>> REPORTER: A final decision has yet to be made, which does give hope to those at the rally today.
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