The federal government has already approved $24 million for the design of the proposed new spinal cord injury unit and renovation of the old complex at the Brockton VA hospital, federal budget documents show.

The hospital now needs $163 million more to construct the building and renovate the older building, according to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs budget documents.

The $188 million project would use a soccer field next to Building 8 for the construction of a 96-bed, long-term care, spinal cord injury unit. Upon completion, the existing 60-bed spinal cord injury unit in Building 8 would be renovated to become an outpatient mental health facility.

But the $163 million needed to complete the process is subject to upcoming budget negotiations.

“Hopefully these will get funded,” said Diane Keefe, a spokesman for the VA Boston Healthcare System. “The budget process is just beginning. (President Obama) just released his budget proposal so the budget has to be approved.”

Obama requested $140.3 billion for the department’s budget, with $52.7 billion earmarked for medical care.

The Brockton campus of the VA Boston Healthcare System, 940 Belmont St., received $24 million in 2009 for the designing of both the new building and the renovation of the older building.

The construction phase of the project is one of 21 projects nationwide that were already started and await completion. The projects in total need $5.9 billion more in funding for completion, according to VA budget documents for fiscal year 2013.

The hospital, which sits on 145 acres of federally owned land, opened in 1953. The complex has 26 buildings connected by an underground tunnel system.

The Brockton campus totals about 1.1 million square feet of hospital space and has 418 total beds. It handles long-term care, spinal cord injuries, mental health, substance abuse, and outpatient care. The campus also boasts a gymnasium and a therapeutic indoor swimming pool.

U.S. Rep Stephen Lynch told The Patriot Ledger editorial board on Monday he is working to secure the remaining funds to complete the project.

“While these funds have yet to be approved, I remain committed to helping the Brockton VA secure this funding,” Lynch said in a statement Tuesday. “Our veterans deserve the very best care we as a nation can offer.”

The new building, Lynch said in the editorial board meeting, would be a more appropriate setting for the hospital’s medical technology.

Lynch also mentioned a goal of securing funds for a clinical addition to the West Roxbury campus, which has 188 beds, originally opening in 1943. According to the budget documents released Monday, the clinical addition to the hospital, which would cost an estimated $296 million, is fourth on the VA’s list of 1,154-item budget priority list.

Alex Bloom may be reached at abloom@enterprisenews.com.

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$24 million approved for design phase of Brockton VA expansion

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