State legislators could double the capacity of the new psych facility before it opens
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – A plan is in the works to open the South Central Regional Psychiatric Hospital with double the beds initially planned, but it would take extra funds from the state.
For months now, county and state representatives and agencies have been making plans to build this psychiatric facility. The initial idea was to have enough space for 52 beds.
Of those beds, 25 would be reserved for people charged with crimes waiting for mental health evaluations. Another 25 would be for people ordered to get treatment there.
Wellington mother encourages organ donations
City and county leaders say state legislators think the need is too great to start small and are now looking at opening with 104 beds instead of 52.
“Quite frankly, right now, we are in a desert as far as mental health services,” said Wichita City Council member Mike Hoheisel.
More beds are needed at the planned South Central Regional Psychiatric Hospital.
“I believe we have the need for 100 beds. We could actually fill it up right now. In other words, there’s actually a waiting list long enough for people who need these types of services,” said Sedgwick County Commissioner Jim Howell.
Howell says the county’s plan has been to host a facility that can hold 52 beds and expand to 104 beds later.
“We actually asked for 50 beds because we believed the state would not want to make more beds. We always had the idea that we would need to go higher,” said Howell.
“I know that there have been some people on the state level with going ahead with 100 beds,” said Hoheisel.
Funding the move could be tricky.
Deputy County Manager Tim Kaufman says the facility will cost $50-70 million to build. County numbers show the project would need another $30-50 million in funding to expand the project to 104 beds.
Governor Laura Kelly will need to ask the legislature for a budget adjustment to allow the funding. Howell says he’s sure she will.
How to dispose of unwanted prescriptions this weekend
“I don’t know that there’s anybody in the legislature that doesn’t think this is a need,” said Howell. “I think that if the governor believes that there’s not enough money in the budget currently and she needs to have an adjustment to the budget for this purpose I’m sure she will ask.”
Budget adjustments are only happening until mid-next week, so the request will have to be made by then at the latest.
The facility is planned to be built in a lot off of Meridian and MacArthur. It is zoned for commercial use, but because of the way the hospital works, it will need to be changed to industrial/mixed use.
The city council will vote on whether to approve the change in zoning next month. City council members say it has been approved by other committees before getting to the city council, but they did see some opposition, mainly from nearby residents. Their main concern is safety.
“They are afraid of somebody possibly escaping the facility, and their homes are right there. Just the possibility of something happening that’s their concern,” said Hoheisel.
City council members say this will not be a concern because of the level of security planned for the facility. Hoheisel says despite some opposition he said the zoning changes look likely to be approved.
Howell says he doesn’t believe making the facility bigger will have a significant impact on the timeline of the project, but finding enough staff could keep it from opening at full capacity. Right now, the hospital is expected to open in 2027.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
