San Antonio State Hospital can't admit any more patients

The San Antonio State Hospital, which provides in-patient treatment for poor, uninsured psychiatric patients who pose a danger to themselves or others, has temporarily stopped admitting new patients, mental health advocates said Thursday. Blamed on a shortage of nursing staff, the hold could last until February and have a catastrophic effect on local hospital emergency rooms, which will back up with very mentally ill patients who no longer can be transferred to SASH, according to various people knowledgeable of the system. Carrie Williams, a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of State Health Services, which oversees SASH, confirmed the hospital has temporarily put a hold on admissions due to a nurse shortage.