LEWISTON, Maine - The court master who oversees the rights of patients at Riverview Psychiatric Center says he's concerned about a hiring freeze.
Gov. Paul LePage signed an executive order Monday for a hiring freeze in order to fund four legislative bills, including a bill that would give raises at Riverview.
Court Master Daniel Wathen says the move would halt recent progress the hospital has made to fill vacancies. "They're pretty much up to full staff with acuity specialists and mental health workers. And even though there are nine nursing vacancies, there were 25, so they've made progress."
Wathen says it's not clear whether the hiring freeze would just be at Riverview, or across the Department of Health and Human Services. Either way, he says, it will slow the process of filling vacancies. DHHS has not yet responded to a request for comment.
