A children’s mental hospital in Raleigh still has patients but won’t be taking more child admissions in the near future.
Holly Hill Children’s Hospital confirmed the facility on Michael. J Smith Lane won’t take any new adolescent patients until further notice.
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“It doesn't make me sad to see that they're not accepting children and adolescents because I just don't think it's the safest place for them,” said Tabitha Shelton, a parent of a former patient of the facility.
Shelton said a group of patients jumped her daughter in 2020 at Holly Hill.
“Basically, her mouth was busted open, her nose was busted and no one would take accountability for what actually happened,” Shelton said.
Similar events have taken place recently.
On Dec. 22, 2022, Raleigh police responded to a large fight between patients.
“It did bring up some really traumatic memories from when my daughter was there,” Shelton said.
On Tuesday, the state said surveyors began investigating Holly Hill on Jan. 8.
According to a statement provided by the state, “Upon entry, Holly Hill reported it suspended adolescent admissions. As the investigation is ongoing, the state is unable to share more.”
WRAL Investigates reached out to Holly Hill CEO Leigh Holston, who provided a written statement.
“I can clarify that Holly Hill Hospital made the decision to temporarily pause child and adolescent admissions,” Holston wrote in part. “The state did not stop admissions.
“Our facility continues to accept adult patients.”
Holston said staffing is managed according to the needs of the facility’s patient population.
WRAL Investigates has extensively reported on concerns over patient treatment. State inspectors have noted multiple violations of care.
“There are some great places that we had great experiences with, but Holly Hill was not one of them,” Shelton said.
Internal emails obtained by WRAL Investigates show Holly Hill will decrease its number of adult admissions.
WRAL Investigates asked Holston how the hospital came to these decisions but did not get a response.