ROANOKE (WSLS 10) -When it comes to the controversial decision of closing down Catawba Hospital, Roanoke City council is sending a message to Richmond.
Council unanimously passed a resolution by councilman Court Rosen that shows the cities opposition to the states budget proposal of a million dollars to research the feasibility of closing the mental health facility.
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Council said the hospital is crucial to the areas patients needing mental health services. Councilman Bill Bestpitch said Catawba Hospital is a local facility that remains essential to the overall well-being of the community.
"When you need a hospital, you need a hospital and nobody wants to have to see people from our area to go 100 miles to go to Staunton to get the hospitalization when they need it, when we have a perfectly good alternative right here outside of Roanoke that people have been using for many years," Bestpitch said.
The notice of opposition now goes directly to the governor.