Renovations Expand Bed Capacity for Inpatient Psychiatric Care

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announces the completion of construction in the “E” Unit at New Hampshire Hospital (NHH). E Unit, which was previously designed for children, has been renovated to accommodate the adult population, and will reopen on April 1st, 2024, bringing 12 more psychiatric beds online increasing NHH capacity to 164 beds. Further renovations will bring 6 more beds online by May 2024, for a total capacity of 170 beds to serve adults. Similarly, “F” unit continues with renovations, with the intention of NHH being at full capacity of 185 later this year. 

Increasing inpatient bed capacity is one component of Mission Zero, the Department’s plan to fully eliminate an occurrence known as “ED Boarding,” in which people in acute behavioral health crisis seek care in medical emergency departments while waiting for care in another setting. The work to address ED Boarding is a top focus outlined in New Hampshire’s 10-Year Mental Health Plan. 

“Another big win for mental health in New Hampshire!” said Governor Chris Sununu. “Today’s announcement of expanded capacity at New Hampshire Hospital continues building on years of progress to rebuild and transform New Hampshire’s mental health system. Through Mission Zero we are laser focused on getting people out of emergency rooms and into the best care facilities possible.” 

“As we make steady advancements in our work toward eliminating ED boarding in New Hampshire, the increase in bed capacity at New Hampshire Hospital will help reduce wait times for people who need inpatient psychiatric care,” said DHHS Commissioner Lori Weaver. “However, inpatient capacity-building is just one part of a multi-pronged effort to eliminate the wait list. The mental health system continues to make strides in many of our Mission Zero strategies that will help reduce the need for, and length of, inpatient psychiatric admissions.”

Mission Zero is addressing several key drivers of New Hampshire’s ED Boarding challenge, including workforce recruitment, patient care coordination, supportive housing, and access to community-based services. The expanded bed capacity aligns with “Care Traffic Control,” an ongoing effort under Mission Zero to more closely manage bed availability to ensure that patients are admitted to an appropriate and least restrictive inpatient psychiatric bed as quickly as possible.