UMass Memorial Well being will shut down the inpatient maternity ward at its Leominster campus in the fall, a hospital official mentioned, a move that drew swift condemnation by state legislators who represent the area and strategy to protest subsequent week.
Citing “industry-wide workforce shortages” and “the steadily declining quantity of births in North Central Massachusetts,” UMass Memorial Well being Alliance-Clinton Hospital President Steve Roach mentioned the hospital has notified the state Division of Public Well being that it intends to close the birthing unit on Sept. 22. The strategy will have to be authorized by regulators.
“This was an particularly tough choice for our overall health program, as our compassionate caregivers have helped thousands of parents and households navigate the birthing journey and welcome new loved ones into their lives for so numerous decades,” Roach mentioned in a statement.
Roach mentioned the staffing shortage has “exacerbated the challenges of completely staffing our maternity inpatient unit regularly … regardless of our persistent attempts to recruit and retain clinicians in this area.” And the declining birth price, he mentioned, “has a considerable influence on our unit’s future capacity to deliver labor and delivery care to our individuals.”
Members of the state delegation representing Leominster and the surrounding area have been united in their response to the announcement Friday morning. A rally to cease the closure is scheduled for Tuesday at six p.m. at the hospital.
State Senator John J. Cronin, a Lunenburg Democrat, blasted the hospital’s choice to close the unit, calling the move “an unjustified decision” that puts the overall health of mothers and their newborns at danger.
“This will outcome in our most marginalized households with no access to reputable transportation forced to provide babies in the overcrowded Leominster emergency division or on the side of the highway on their way to Gardner or Worcester,” Cronin mentioned in a statement posted on his Facebook web page.
“Over the previous decade, North Central has endured UMass Memorial’s closure of the mental overall health and urgent care center at Burbank Hospital in Fitchburg, endoscopy and ambulatory solutions from Clinton, cardiac and pulmonary rehab and inpatient pediatric unit in Leominster. Sufficient is adequate.”
The statement was also shared on social media by Representatives Natalie Higgins, Meg Kilcoyne, and Mike Kushmerek.
Members of the state delegation representing Leominster and the surrounding area have been united in their response to the announcement Friday morning. A rally to cease the closure is scheduled for Tuesday at six p.m. at the hospital.
Nick Stoico can be reached at nick.stoico@globe.com. Comply with him on Twitter @NickStoico.
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