John J. Monahan, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, January 24, 2012 Boston - Taunton State Hospital will close by the end of the year and most of its 169 patients will be transferred to the new Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital, a Department of Mental Health official said today. The closure of the hospital, slated to be completed by December 31, will not result in any reductions in the overall number of inpatient beds or Taunton State Hospital's 410 employees, all of whom will be offered job opportunities at the new Worcester facility, the DMH said. Paulette Song, spokeswoman for DMH, confirmed this afternoon that Taunton State Hospital will close by December 31 ... Taunton