Aging Saunders Building hampers safety and security at Tewksbury Hospital
Tewksbury Hospital’s aging Saunders Building and a patient population with many forensic referrals complicate safety and security decisions. After a string of violent incidents, the state banned pepper gel in clinical areas, triggering outcry and a partial reversal as officials balance treatment with security. The 1963 building is cited as a major barrier to upgrades, with replacing it estimated at about $11 million, while the campus’s 700 acres include numerous aging structures. Staffing gaps leave many psychiatric beds unfilled, and officials are weighing options like dedicated court-involved units (roughly $6 million each) and defensive shields, all amid debates on how best to protect staff and patients without compromising care.