Last week, the city council allocated $600,000 in capital funds to support reopening HHC’s North Central Bronx Hospital Labor and Deliver Unit. The unit closed suddenly last year with little notice to expecting mothers or nurses. Now, the unit is on track to reopen in the fall after NYSNA nurses, patients, community members and elected leaders united to speak out against the closure.
 
Our coalition held rallies and press conferences, spoke out at hearings, and reached out to our elected leaders for support.
 
Community groups played a key role in our campaign, with strong leadership from CPHS, the North Central Bronx Committee, Choices in Childbirth, the North West Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, North West Community Power and New York Lawyers for the Public Interest. This victory would not have been possible without the support of our city council and our Public Advocate, Letitia James.
 
“From the beginning NYSNA nurses have spoken out to stop this epidemic of hospital cuts and closures in communities that already have too little access to care,” said Anne Bové, RN, NYSNA’s HHC Executive Council President. “We are pleased that the city council is providing funding to support reopening the maternity unit at North Central Bronx Hospital so that Bronx moms and babies can get the care they need.”