What will be the fate of Stokes Reynolds Memorial Hospital? - Commissioners approve sending out RFP

(By Leslie Bray, The Stokes News) - The destiny of the only hospital located in Stokes County is inching closer to being decided. On Monday, Dec. 13, Stokes County Commissioners elected to send out the Request For Proposals for Stokes Reynolds Memorial Hospital. The RFP will go out immediately, and serious takers will have 45 days to put in their proposals.

Commissioner James Booth made the motion to adopt a resolution declaring the Board’s intent to sell, lease or convey SRMH, according to a NC General Statute—Part 1, Article 2, Chapter 131E. The motion also included the approval for sending out the RFP, setting the date for a public hearing on the Resolution of Intent for Monday, Jan. 10, at 1:30 p.m. and fixing a Jan. 31 deadline for proposals to be submitted. The vote to pass the motion was unanimous.

Since Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center gave up the hospital in Feb. 2010, the fate of SRMH has been unsure. HMC has been managing the facility for several months, but technically the county has been in charge of the hospital. Since the hospital has been back in the hands of the county, over $900,000 has been taken out of the county’s fund balance to keep the hospital afloat. A $1.4 million in debt still remains.