State-run New Hampshire Hospital in Concord opened a 10-bed mental health crisis unit Tuesday after a nursing shortage hindered the opening for a year, WMUR9 reported.
The unit is intended to assuage waiting lists and pressures at local emergency departments, which frequently house psychiatric patients until New Hampshire Hospital has availability.
The unit is for patients who can receive treatment and be discharged in three days. Those who need long-term treatment will be transferred to a traditional unit, WMUR9 reported. In addition, the unit is staffed with a full-time psychiatrist and nurse practitioner.
Two patients were expected to move into the unit Tuesday, and it is predicted to be full early next week.
The opening comes a week after 12 psychiatrists and nurse practitioners at the state hospital quit in retaliation of Lebanon-based Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center's new control over the hospital, stating the change would eliminate their automatic raises, vacation and retirement benefits.
CEO Robert MacLeod, DHA, said the hospital is still fully staffed despite the departure, according to WMUR9.
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