State says no to Clayton hospital expansion

SMITHFIELD — UNC Health Johnston has gone 1-for-2, so far, in bids to expand its Smithfield and Clayton hospitals.

The state’s Certificate of Need Section, which decides if hospitals can add beds, said yes in July to Johnston’s plan to add 12 acute-care beds to its Smithfield hospital.

But the CON Section said no to Johnston’s bid to add a dozen acute-care beds at the Clayton hospital. UNC Health also planned to add three neonatal beds in Clayton and move obstetrics beds, a cesarean section room and three neonatal beds from Smithfield to Clayton.

UNC Health said it would appeal the state’s denial of its Clayton expansion plans.

“We believe that the expansion of the Clayton campus is needed to keep up with the growing demand in the region,” spokesman Alan Wolfe said in a statement.

In denying the Clayton expansion, the CON Section said the application fell short in many areas. Among them, UNC Health Johnston failed to show the need for substantially more beds in Clayton and appeared not to have all of the needed financing, the state said.

“We are working to address questions that were raised in the denial,” Wolf said.

UNC Health Johnston had hoped to consolidate women’s care on its Clayton campus.

“Centrally locating all women’s services in Clayton will increase patient and physician satisfaction, improve operational efficiencies and enhance UNC Health Johnston’s recruitment,” the hospital said in an email at the time of its application.

The Smithfield beds will make up a progressive care unit, or PCU. Such beds provide care for patients with greater complexity, the hospital said.

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