Mental health advocates on July 31 protested the closure of acute psychiatric beds at Good Samaritan Hospital, CBS affiliate KPIX reported.
The hospital, operated by Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare, in May announced it would eliminate 18 beds by Aug. 20.
"Good Samaritan has done everything in its power to staff the behavioral health unit, including a telehealth option," HCA told NBC affiliate KNTV in a statement. "Unfortunately, in the post-pandemic healthcare ecosystem, we can't find qualified staffing for this unit."
Jim Beall, a former state senator who attended the rally, expressed concern over the closures. "We need to have more beds," he said "If we don't have more beds and we have a reduction in beds, it just means more people will not be served in our community and their conditions will get worse."