(SMITHTOWN, NEW YORK) - St. Catherine of Siena Hospital announced on February 1st that the facility would terminate all maternal child health services, which includes labor and delivery, post-partum and neonatal intensive care.  But the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), which represents Nurses at the Hospital, argue the closure of these vital services will have a negative impact on the community, forcing pregnant individuals to travel 30-to-40 minutes more to other nearby hospitals - which will significantly increase the risk of adverse events during pregnancy or childbirth.

The closure of these services comes amid a national maternal and infant mortality crisis. 

A recent study has shown a doubling of maternal deaths over the last 20 years, with New York State having a high pregnancy-related mortality rate of 18.2 per 100,000 live births, with 78% of those deaths preventable. 

NYSNA Nurses who work at St. Catherine of Siena Hospital were joined by Labor and community allies, including Long Island Jobs with Justice Executive Director Ani Halasz and Long Island Federation of Labor Political Director Imran Ansari, at a public forum that was held earlier this week on the discontinuation of the hospital’s maternity services. 

Hospital Registered Nurse Holly Meduri said: "As a dedicated Nurse with years of service at St. Catherine, I've witnessed the positive impact our maternal child health services have on families. Closing these essential services not only jeopardizes lives but undermines the core values that have defined our hospital.  We must fight to preserve the care and support our community depends on."

NYSNA President Nancy Hagans said: “We are strongly against the reckless decision to close vital maternal child health services at St. Catherine.  Nurses are united to ensure the well-being of mothers, babies and families, and demand that St. Catherine of Siena administrators put patients before profits and keep these services open."

NYSNA represents more than 42,000 Members in the State and is New York’s largest Union and Professional Association for Registered Nurses.

NYSNA is an affiliate of National Nurses United, the country's largest and fastest-growing Union and Professional Association of Registered Nurses, with more than 225,000 Members nationwide.

To Directly Access This Labor News Story, Go To: Nurses Speak Out Against St. Catherine Hospital Closure of Maternal Child Health Services | New York State Nurses Association (nysna.org)

Photo Courtesy Of NYSNA's Facebook Page.