By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Shelby Baptist Medical Center officials have asked the Alabama Health Planning and Development Agency to add 30 new acute care beds to the hospital after patient capacity has remained steady over the past several weeks.

Shelby Baptist officials submitted the request to the Health Planning and Development Agency on Jan. 31, and is looking for permission to add 30 new beds to help the hospital handle future patient growth.

Shelby Baptist Vice President of Communications and Government Relations Ross Mitchell said the state health plan allows hospitals to request additional beds if patient occupancy levels stay relatively high for a set period of time.

“Because of the South Tower, we have the space to house those new beds,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell said the matter is tentatively scheduled to go before the Certificate of Need board in May.