Local elected officials and community activists called on Long Island College Hospital (LICH) to reconsider its decision to shut down its maternity ward, and create a long-term plan for combating its financial problems. LICH is run by Continuum Health Partners, which also manages Beth Israel Medical Center and St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center in Manhattan.
Councilmember De Blasio:
“I am deeply disturbed by LICH’s recent decisions to close its maternity ward and rape crisis intervention program. Without these important components of the hospital, Brooklyn residents will not have access to the direct health care services they need and deserve. LICH must stop taking services away from Brooklyn families and work with the community to create a long-term plan for combating its financial problems.
“Maternity ward closings are becoming a Brooklyn-wide problem. Last December, Victory Memorial Hospital in Bay Ridge shut down its labor and delivery unit due to financial troubles. In addition, Interfaith Medical Center in Bedford-Stuyvesant closed its maternity ward in 2004, and St. Mary’s Hospital closed down entirely in 2005.
“As Long Island College Hospital continues to dismantle its services, our neighbors suffer. It’s time for Continuum to create a long-term plan that will ensure the community has access to quality medical care in their home borough,”
Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez:
“Brooklyn deserves a hospital that puts the health of our hard-working families at the top of its priority list.”
Councilmember Letitia James.
“Maternity and rape crisis intervention services are vital to many of Brooklyn’s residents and families. We can not stand idly by while LICH takes these important services away from the community, while failing to present a long-term plan for its financial stability.”
State Senator Martin Connor:
“Our neighborhoods of Brooklyn Heights, Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill and DUMBO have become home to many young families with young children with the potential of many more children on the way. It would be a tragedy for LICH to close their OB/GYN and pediatric departments when these families most need these services. I wholeheartedly support my community and the doctors and other hospital personnel in this fight to stop the dismantling of this important medical facility by Continuum Health Care. I have already contacted the New York State Department of Health to let them know how concerned I am about the proposed termination of these services at LICH.”
Assemblywoman Joan Millman
“I am deeply concerned about the possible closing of Long Island College Hospital’s maternity ward. It sets a dangerous precedent for closing any unprofitable department with little regard to the actual needs of the community. I know the State Department of Health will work with Continuum Health Partners to explore every option to ensure LICH remains a full-service neighborhood hospital.
Councilmember Gonzalez:
“For 150 years LICH has provided vital services for all of downtown Brooklyn and surrounding communities. To watch it being dismantled, piece-by-piece is both alarming and disheartening. R are vital services, not commodities, and the people of Brooklyn can ill afford fewer health care alternatives. I am convinced Continuum is not considering the human element or the needs of the Borough of Brooklyn in their decision-making process. I call on them to do so.”