Four Milwaukee-area lawmakers on Thursday called for a state audit of the Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex, saying reports of patient abuse needed further investigation.
The state legislators, all Democrats, said services for people with mental health problems were “inadequate and severely mismanaged.” Reps. Tamara Grigsby, Jon Richards, Pedro Colón and Sandy Pasch said an audit would help identify ways to improve the complex.
At a news conference on the complex grounds, Grigsby said abuse reports and other problems had raised alarms.
“It’s disgusting, despicable how this complex has been managed,” she said.
The lawmakers faulted county hospital administrators and County Executive Scott Walker for not providing more details of the extent of patient abuse, steps taken to prevent further abuse and any disciplinary action taken against Mental Health Complex employees. Walker and county lawyers have said patient confidentiality laws restrict what information can be released.