I am writing in regards to the directive of section112a of Act #67 that calls for a plan to reopen the canteen at the Vermont State Hospital. I have just read the report from Commissioner Hartman and see that he is suggesting two options. I want to tell you as a former VSH patient that the vending machine plan is a very poor one. The plan to have the company that runs the state cafeteria in the Waterbury complex operate the canteen is better, but it has flaws. A for-profit company is not likely to cater to patients needs. They will not stay open on late afternoons and weekends which is when the patients have time to go to the canteen. The Waterbury complex cafeteria does not operate at those hours because there is no profit in it. Canteen workers have been provided with NAPPI and Pro-Act training in order to effectively deal with difficult hospital patients. Patients are often allowed to work at the canteen also. I am not sure how that could be allowed given how strict the privacy laws are.
Canteen Report To Chairs 03.16.10[1]
Canteen Report Attachments 03.16.10[1]
This plan begs another question: If a private company could run the canteen at enough of a profit to pay for upgrades in the space, then why couldn’t the DMH do this on it’s own? If they cannot run a small canteen operation with a $250,000 budget, then how can they be expected to run a $20 million hospital? I don’t think it’s a good idea to have only a portion of VSH privatized for these reasons. If it is going to be privatized then the whole of VSH should be privatized also.
Sincerely,
Curtis Sinclair
former VSH patient
and former VSH canteen coordinator
