Mental hospital investigation reveals weaknesses that led to escape

Hospital failures were at play when two patients escaped from the Western State Hospital mental health facility in Washington in April, the Associated Press reported.

According to an investigation made by government officials, the patient windows were not secured properly and tens of thousands of master keys were unaccounted for. They’re similar issues the hospital was cited for in 2010: “a lack of awareness of the foundational role security plays in the operation of a psychiatric hospital.”

Investigators in the most recent investigation also reported seeing “distracted” staff and said the window through which one of the patients escaped had been broken for a while before the escape.

And the AP found that 185 patients had escaped or left the premises unauthorized since 2013.

Hospital officials have said they plan to step up security measures after the incident, including new locks.

Check out ABC News to see more about how the two patients escaped in April and how hospitals and officials are supposed to respond when patients considered “dangerous” leave the facility.