For nearly a decade, the state has inched forward on efforts to close Dorothea Dix Hospital in Raleigh.

  But Health & Human Services Secretary Lanier Cansler says the mental health facility will stay open for at least one more year thanks to $6 million dollars in funding through 2010.

  "At this point in time we simply don't have enough beds in the new Central Regional Hospital to transfer all the patients, plus there's a need in

Wake County for additional beds," said Cansler.

Currently Dix serves 225 patients and that too may change.

 Cansler says he’s keeping his fingers crossed that a Wake County judge will lift a temporary restraining order within the next two weeks, so staff can begin moving half of Dix's patients to the new mental healthy facility in Butner.

 The group Disability Rights North Carolina filed a class action suit nearly a year ago citing safety concerns at Central Regional.

  The advocacy group’s Executive Director Vicki Smith told NBC 17 News, "Most recently we've been working extremely closely (with State Mental Health Services) on the plans. We think most of the legal issues have been addressed."

"Their concerns are ours. I want safety, I want to make sure the quality of care is there," said Secretary Cansler.

 If the temporary restraining order is lifted hospital staff will begin slowly moving patients in October and finish the transfer of approximately 125 patients by January.

  Cansler says a 60 bed adult admissions unit will remain at Dix along with 25 beds for forensic patients, another 25 beds for children with long-term needs and a research unit helping 10 patients.

  "Over time those numbers will decline as we're able to build more capacity.  For now, Dix will continue to play an important role in serving the people of North Carolina.

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