GOLDSBORO, N.C. -- Some state lawmakers are getting fired up over a mental health facility.
They’re taking aim at the Department of Health and Human Services about why the addition to Cherry Hospital in Goldsboro is still not open for patient care six years after its groundbreaking.
A letter to DHHS and the director of state property construction is being drafted asking for a thorough timeline of their progress.
“We can expand that to 317 beds just by opening this facility. You're looking at hundreds of jobs and a major economic impact,” said Representative John Bell. “We received dates that have since passed. Last week three representatives reached out and received three different answers from May 13 to Sept. 1 to Oct. 1.”
According to a statement from DHHS:
DHHS received beneficial occupancy on June 1, 2016, and anticipates receiving final acceptance within the next 30 days. DHHS needs a 90-day transition period after receiving Final Acceptance to train staff in the new hospital before starting to move in patients.
Beneficial occupancy allows DHHS to use portions of the hospital for moving in furniture and equipment and for starting training of staff members prior to final acceptance of the hospital.
The new hospital will add 117 new beds and 373 new jobs. To date, 104 of those new positions have been hired.
The primary reasons for the project schedule delay include the general contractor defaulting the original electrical subcontractor which created a ripple effect of delays with other subcontractors, project management issues, and challenges with subcontractors completing work.