Activists Rally Against Proposed Closure of Labor and Delivery Unit at Windham Hospital

Activists Rally Against Closure of Labor and Delivery Unit at Windham Hospital

Despite the cold weather, activists gathered on Monday evening to protest the proposed closure of the labor and delivery unit at Windham Hospital in Connecticut. This move is part of a larger trend, with three hospitals in the state seeking permission to end birthing services.

Rodney Alexander, a member of the Willimantic town council and vice president of the local NAACP branch, expressed his concerns about the impact of the closure on the community. “This is how you kill a small city. How can you convince a young couple to move to Willimantic, raise a family, with no maternity ward?” he questioned.

Hartford HealthCare, the company that owns Windham Hospital, halted its labor and delivery services in June 2020 and later filed an application to close the unit permanently. Patient safety concerns and difficulty recruiting healthcare providers were cited as the main reasons for the closure.

The state’s Office of Health Strategy (OHS) has not issued a final decision on the closure, despite more than three years passing since the initial application was filed. Activists, including John Brady, executive vice president of AFT CT, are urging the state to uphold its proposed decision denying Hartford HealthCare’s application.

The closure of the labor and delivery unit at Windham Hospital would leave only one rural hospital in Connecticut offering birthing services. The lengthy approval process for these closures has drawn criticism, especially in comparison to other healthcare transactions in the state.

While Windham Hospital is furthest along in the application process, Sharon Hospital and Johnson Memorial Hospital also have pending applications to close their labor and delivery units. OHS has faced scrutiny for the delays in issuing final decisions on these closures.

Despite the challenges, activists and community members remain hopeful for a resolution that prioritizes the healthcare needs of residents. The fate of these hospitals and their birthing services will have a significant impact on the local communities they serve.