LOCKPORT, N.Y. — Major changes are coming to the Eastern Niagara Hospital as a part of the "2020 Transformation Plan."
We previously reported that the plan includes:
- Planning for the emergency room expansion project
- Seeking state grants for debt relief and IT implementation
- Investing in UBMD Emergency Medicine
- Investing in Great Lakes Medical Imaging
- Discontinuing maternity services at ENH’s Lockport site
- Discontinuing dialysis, radiology services, and Express Care at the Newfane site
- Continuing family medicine clinic at 475 Transit Street
- Achieving and maintaining DNV-GL accreditation to further the quality of care throughout the hospital system.
Community members, though, are not on board with the changes, specifically pertaining to maternity and dialysis services.
Dozens of people protested outside of the Lockport location on Saturday.
"It's frightening. I really believe that we're gonna lose some people because of it and it could be that you might not hear about it but a life is a life," retired nurse Fran Biggs said.
Mother-to-be Kirrin Cook was also in attendance at the protest. She was expecting to give birth at ENH this fall.
"Two years ago when we purchased our house, we bought a house right down the street knowing that I may actually have a high-risk pregnancy so we could get right here," Cook said.
Now she's making alternative plans that may require a drive of 45 minutes to an hour.
"You know, it's scary. Scary to think about," Cook explained.
Calvin Shellman also grabbed a sign to voice his concerns.
His son was born at ENH just a few months ago.
"I would hate to see all those nurses who did such a great job taking care of my family while they were here lose their jobs," Shellman said.
Rocco Surace, the chairman of ENH's Board of Directors said in a written statement, "These decisions were not made easily or without extensive analysis and reflection. As a smaller community hospital, ENH must take these necessary steps and be proactive to secure our future. We are committed to serve the community for the long term."
However, people who live near the hospitals said they want to be a part of the conversation.
"It's not just the City of Lockport that's affected by this. The Lockport Hospital and the Newfane Hospital serve more rural areas, Newfane, Olcott, Barker, Wilson. You're asking people now to drive over an hour for dialysis, maternity, radiology. It's troubling," said Maria Fabrizio, a Lockport resident.
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