Executive Council approves state's plan to buy Hampstead Hospital with federal money

The Executive Council gave the state Department of Health and Human Services its final approval Wednesday to use $15.1 million in federal money to buy Hampstead Hospital to provide minors inpatient psychiatric care.

Health and Human Services Commissioner Lori Shibinette said the purchase, which includes nearly 100 acres, could be complete by the end of the year, but finding enough staff to use at least 80 to 90 beds will take months.

The Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee, which also must sign off, gave its support Friday.

The vote came as 25 children are waiting in hospital emergency rooms for inpatient treatment beds, which have been too few to meet increased demand throughout the pandemic.

Hiring will be a challenge; the hospital has been using only 40 to 45 beds of the available 111 due to workforce shortages.

Read more: https://newhampshirebulletin.com/briefs/executive-council-approves-states-plan-to-buy-hampstead-hospital-with-federal-money/