Design and staffing problems have delayed the opening of a $120 million state psychiatric hospital.
Dempsey Benton, secretary of the state Department of Health and Human Services, said Thursday that repairs resulting from design flaws were being made to the new Central Regional Hospital in Butner.
The building had been designed with 30 categories of hazard that could allow patients to hang themselves.
The announcement means that Dorothea Dix Hospital in Raleigh will remain open longer.
Most of the campus had been scheduled to close when Central opens, except for 60 beds that the state will operate jointly with Wake County. Minutes from recent meetings of the Central hospital management team show that they felt the May 1 opening date was unrealistic.
The hospital will now open on July 1 or later. (N&O)
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