Clewiston, Labelle mental health clinics close down unexpectedly

HENDRY COUNTY, Fla.- Hundreds of Southwest Florida mental health patients are without treatment after two clinics closed their doors.

The Hendry-Glades Behavioral Health Center ended its contract with the state Wednesday. The center operated two clinics, one in Clewiston and another in Labelle.

After the clinics abruptly shut down, people were left desperate for their medical records.

Wendy Nimick was shocked when nobody called to tell her.

“Nobody called me, I called and they told me they’re closing down.”

Her daughter is among hundreds of former mental health patients left abruptly without a doctor or treatment.

What’s making things worse, is that former clients haven’t been able to get their medical records from the clinics for their new appointments.

“I can see all of those medical records and she would like her medical records.”

When WINK News went to the clinic and asked for Nimick’s records, the man at the clinic said he couldn’t hand them over.

We called the company contracted by the state to oversee the transition of patients. They said there had been some legal confusion regarding the medical records, and nobody knew who had custody of the records.

Not long after the call, they figured it out and while we there the clinic handed Nimick her records.

“It should not take a news crew and a reporter to get your records for you.”