Vineyard health care providers are relieved that plans to shutter the closest inpatient mental health facility have been paused by the state. 

When Gov. Maura Healey initially proposed her budget in January, she planned to close the Pocasset Mental Health Center in Bourne as part of an effort to cut costs. But, after pushback from the region’s lawmakers, health organizations and the public, she directed the state on Monday to halt the plan.

The state-run 16-bed mental health center in Pocasset, also known as the Cape Cod & Islands Community Mental Health Center, is an inpatient mental health facility that serves psychiatric patients. It is one of two centers located on the Cape, with the other being Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis.

The Vineyard has no such facility, and patients here can be transferred to Pocasset. 

Martha’s Vineyard Community Services chief clinical officer Abigail Foley was alarmed at the initial proposal and was pleased the governor changed her mind. 

“All the advocacy from the human service organizations on the Cape and Islands really helped to support this decision to pause the closing because it’s such a needed resource,” she said. “It was really wonderful to see the community come together to help support the community members who would access this resource.”

In a region of the state where mental health resources are already scarce, Pocasset is a vital asset to Vineyard residents who seek psychiatric care, according to Falmouth state Sen. Dylan Fernandes, a Democrat who previously represented the Island on Beacon Hill.

“The people who are using these services are typically going through very challenging mental health crises,” said Mr. Fernandes, a vocal opponent of the plan. “The Vineyard, in particular, is geographically isolated and access to care is a real challenge.” 

A community meeting was held on Feb. 11 in Pocasset and it was attended by approximately 150 people who shared concerns about the closing. The meeting was hosted by Mr. Fernandes and Falmouth state Rep. David Vieira.

If the center had closed, the process for those on the Vineyard who seek necessary care would have become longer and more complicated, according to Ms. Foley.  

“There’s really not enough psychiatric inpatient beds in the area, which really then increases patients who are coming to the emergency department seeking inpatient psychiatric care and end up getting stuck [in the process],” she said.

Currently, the process for patients to be admitted to centers like Pocasset is through the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, where they conduct psychiatric evaluations. Community Services can refer a patient to the hospital to receive an evaluation. Then, the hospital decides if the patient would need care from a center like Pocasset, before arranging the transfer of care. 

“Martha’s Vineyard Hospital works with the Mass General Brigham behavioral bed search team, who does an amazing job finding beds throughout the region for patients that need to be transferred off the Island,” hospital director of emergency medicine Dr. Karen Casper said.

Governor Healey’s initial plan also included closing the Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children in Canton. She thanked the public for its feedback on the role the facilities play in the community.

In a statement, the governor said she planned to form a stakeholders group of patients, families, labor, local officials and medical professionals that will undertake a review of the facilities to look at what care is offered and to make recommendations for the best path forward. 

On Monday Mr. Fernandes was thankful that the governor rescinded the decision, saying it showed her willingness to hear from the community. 

“We spoke out and rallied against the Department of Mental Health’s decision to close the in-patient center and we are incredibly fortunate to have a governor who listens and deeply cares about the closure’s impact to our geographically isolated region and to people struggling with lack of access to care,” he said in a statement.