SALT LAKE CITY — Governor Spencer Cox stated he was "very concerned" with the safety of patients at a Midvale psychiatric hospital, promising to shut down the facility if a review warrants the move.
Highland Ridge Hospital recently had its standard license revoked for a fourth time, yet its doors remain open.
Cox addressed the situation in response to questions about his level of comfort with the state's oversight of psychiatric facilities. FOX 13 News continues to find unreported cases of assault at multiple hospitals.
On Tuesday, FOX 13 News reported the Highland Ridge Hospital's CEO, Jim Hess, is no longer with the facility.
"There is a process that we have to go through by law," Cox said. "We will go through that process and execute faithfully on that."
Since 2019, the Unified Police Department has responded to 34 cases of assault and 20 cases of sexual assault related to the facility. Some hospital employees and patients believe the "actual number" of cases is higher because not all assaults are reported to police as required by law.
Cox referenced a full-time oversight monitor now being in place at Highland Ridge, which is expected to assist in making sure all reported issues are dealt with.
"If there are issues or those complaints come in, we have someone there monitoring full time," said the governor, "and, again, if at the end of the process, at the end of the review, that the evidence weighs in favor of a license revocation or shutting down the facility, we will execute on that as well."
