By Kendrick Jones –

Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester has confirmed that they are reopening 12 inpatient behavioral health beds.

The hospital closed the beds in August they say because of “Staffing challenges presented by the longstanding nurses strike.”

The Chief Executive Officer for the hospital, Carolyn Jackson on Monday said, “We have been eager to reopen this service for our friends and neighbors in Central Massachusetts, and grateful to those whose hard work and determination made this happen.”

The behavioral health beds that reopened on Monday represent 60 percent of Saint Vincent Hospital’s inpatient psychiatry capacity and Jackson says, “This is another step on our journey to reopening services impacted during the strike.”

Saint Vincent Hospital’s expects to reopen even more beds after striking nurses return to work in January.