(OGDENSBURG, NEW YORK) – The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) is condemning Ogdensburg’s Northstar/Claxton-Hepburn’s proposed cuts to its Maternal Health Services with NYSNA President Nancy Hagans releasing the following statement:

NYSNA Nurses are outraged to hear Northstar/Claxton-Hepburn is planning to eliminate Maternal Health Services at the Hospital. Our demand throughout this bankruptcy is that the Hospital cuts waste and mismanagement and saves essential Health Care Services. This proposed closure continues the devastating trend of North Country patients losing access to care. This region needs Maternal Health Services and we encourage Community Members and Hospital Workers to weigh in on this proposed closure to defend these vital Health Care Services and good jobs in the North Country. 

In addition, NYSNA - New York’s largest Union and Professional Association for Registered Nurses (RNs) that represents 45,000 Members across the State, posted the following on its Social Media Outlets:

The North Country already struggles to get the care we need.

If we lose Maternal Health Services at Claxton-Hepburn, patients will have to travel far distances to give birth and receive Maternal Care, even in emergency situations. 

This is an essential Health Care Service that we cannot afford to lose.  

Our Community deserves a Hospital that offers all the services we need.

We can’t allow Northstar to chip away at our health care piece by piece. 

The North Country is not expendable.

We need quality care that our Community can rely on.  

Stand with the NYSNA Nurses at Northstar/Claxton-Hepburn to demand the Hospital maintain Maternal Health Services.

This region needs these vital services and the planned closure would have devastating effects on the Community.

NYSNA Editor’s Note: To Learn More And Sign The NYSNA Petition, Go To: Sign the Petition to Protect Maternal Health Services at Northstar/ Claxton-Hepburn | New York State Nurses Association

Photo & Graphic Courtesy of NYSNA.