Senator Anthony Bucco and Assemblymen Michael Patrick Carroll and Anthony Bucco (all R-Morris, Somerset), met with state officials on Tuesday, Sept. 6, at Greystone Psychiatric Park Hospital to take a tour of the facility and discuss recent allegations about safety at the state run facility.

“I’m glad we were able to relay the concerns brought to our attention about Greystone to Acting DHS Commissioner Connolly and her team in person,” Senator Bucco said. “The allegations were of great concern to all of us. We had a productive meeting and agreed that the safety and overall well-being of patients and staff are a top priority at Greystone.”

Greystone Psychiatric Park Hospital is a 450-bed hospital with several cottages that serve 60 individuals ready for transitional housing. It is one of the four psychiatric facilities that make up the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services within the NJ Department of Human Services.

“When I read the media reports about conditions at Greystone, I took them seriously,” said Assemblyman Carroll. “We toured the facility and during our meeting, we discussed the challenges involved with running a psychiatric hospital like Greystone.”

Senator Bucco and Assemblymen Bucco and Carroll organized the meeting with Acting Commissioner Elizabeth Connolly, her staff and the Administrative staff at the hospital. The meeting was requested in response to an alleged rise in assaults and overcrowded conditions at Greystone. Among the topics discussed at the meeting were the conditions at the hospital and recent news articles about Greystone.

“This is not an isolated meeting but will be a continued conversation with the NJ Department of Human Services,” said Assemblyman Bucco. “During our meeting, I requested data on staffing levels from 2012 to the present and for assaults reported within that same time period. The NJ Department of Human Services agreed to provide that information to us and I will be carefully reviewing it upon receipt.”