Lumberton officials say they have approval from the Mississippi Department of Health to do a feasibility study on their quest to build a hospital.

Alderman Kent Crider said the Health Department’s Policy and Planning Office has given the city a year to return with a feasibility study.

Crider says a consultant must to hired to do the study.

The city wants to build a 25-bed, critical-access hospital.

The feasibility study would help the city show there is a need for a hospital and medical needs are not currently being met by other hospitals in the area.