Sexual Assault Investigation At Now-Shuttered Westwood Psychiatric Hospital

WESTWOOD, MA – Police are investigating an alleged sexual assault at Westwood Lodge, which the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health permanently closed on Friday. According to a Westwood Police Department spokesperson, a sexual assault was reported at the psychiatric hospital last week.

The DMH closed the hospital on Aug. 25 due to "issues concerning patient safety and quality of care" and transferred its 20 adult patients out of the facility, the department said in an emailed statement. It confirmed an investigation into an alleged incident at the hospital but did not comment on specific details.

The shuttering of Westwood Lodge was first reported by the Boston Globe on Monday.

Since January 2015, the DMH has conducted 87 inspections of facilities owned by Arbour Health System, including Westwood Lodge. Prior to the hospital's closure, Arbour operated seven psychiatric facilities in Massachusetts.

A representative of Arbour said in an email the company's primary concern following the DMH decision was to ensure ongoing care for the patients at Westwood Lodge. The inpatient community was transferred to other Arbour Health System facilities in the region, and patients in the partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient treatment programs have either been transferred or discharged where appropriate.

Westwood Lodge is no longer accepting patients for inpatient or day treatment.

"Regarding the alleged incident, we are fully cooperating with the authorities in their investigation of this event and will continue to do so until its completion. Due to patient confidentiality and privacy laws, we are unable to provide details regarding the care and treatment of any specific patient."

On Aug. 1, the DMH cleared Westwood Lodge to accept new patients in an adult care unit after closing it to admissions in May. A DMH monitor began visiting the hospital several days a week on June 12 and was expected to make bi-weekly trips for at least six months to help it comply with licensing requirements, the department said.

The DMH conducted 91 licensing visits to Westwood Lodge between January 1, 2015 and August 24, 2017. Of those, 13 resulted in specific action, which can include additional monitoring, the appointment of a clinical monitor, issuance of a reduced license, temporary closure of admissions, suspension of a license for a specific unit or closure of a hospital.

The Norfolk County District Attorney's office, which is investigating the sexual assault report in conjunction with the Westwood Police Department, said so far no criminal charges have been filed.

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