At Bronx hearing DC 37 says 'no' to public hospitals closings

DC 37 represents 15,000 public healthcare workers at HHC hospitals and healthcare facilities citywide, including North Central Bronx (NCB) and Jacobi Hospitals in the Bronx. Today, at a Bronx hearing of the Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century, the union spoke out against the possible closing of HHC hospitals and nursing homes in medically underserved, low income, and immigrant neighborhoods and communities of color.

The Commission was established in 2005 by the governor and state legislature to recommend reductions in state Medicaid spending - mainly by closing hospitals and nursing homes. Governor Pataki proposes closing up to one-third of all hospital beds in New York State. DC 37 opposes these draconian cutbacks and is working with the "Save our Safety Net Campaign" of concerned patient, consumer and community groups, unions and healthcare professionals to alert New Yorkers to this serious threat to public healthcare.

"These closings would undo all the progress city hospitals and facilities have made in providing state-of-the-art health care to over 1 million patients a year, including those most in need," said Lillian Roberts, Executive Director of DC 37. "Proposing to close public hospitals in the Bronx is an attack on the community - undercutting healthcare and eliminating badly needed jobs. That's why we're speaking out strongly against these proposed cuts."

"Money has been invested in HHC facilities and they're getting top inspection scores. So why does Governor Pataki want to close some of them? It's outrageous," DC 37 representatives said. "And if nearby private and voluntary hospitals close, HHC facilities will have to pick up those patients with no additional resources. When St. Mary's closed in Brooklyn, ER visits to Woodhull and Kings County Hospitals increased. But where was the funding to HHC to care for those extra patients?"

Speaking at the Bronx hearing from District Council 37 locals were:

• Carmen Charles, President of Municipal Hospital Employees Union Local 420, representing 9,000 healthcare workers at HHC facilities citywide, including North Central Bronx and Jacobi Hospitals.
• Elizabeth Thompson, Chief Shop Steward at NCB for NYC Clerical-Administrative Employees Local 1549 and a community activist who fought the closing of Lincoln and Fordham hospitals.
• Brian Griffin, Chief Shop Steward at Jacobi Hospital from NYC Clerical-Administrative Employees Local 1549 and a financial counselor who spoke about the growing financial strains on patients.
• Albert Willingham from Health Services Employees Local 768, which represents professional staff at Bronx hospitals and health care facilities.

District Council 37 represents 121,000 city workers and 50,000 retirees.