Milwaukee St. Francis Hospital labor/delivery to close, prompting protests

MILWAUKEE – The labor and supply unit at S. Francis Hospital is ready to just accept its final sufferers Wednesday, Dec. 21. It was the one hospital the place you might have a baby on Milwaukee’s south aspect.

Wednesday is the final day anybody shall be admitted to the St. Francis Hospital labor and supply unit. That method, the final discharge might be Friday, closing the unit in time for Christmas.

A gaggle of well being care staff and nurses is hoping to save lots of the labor and supply unit at St. Francis. They held a press convention after which marched round Metropolis Corridor Tuesday night. 

“Closing St. Francis principally offers no labor and supply to the south aspect of Milwaukee in any respect,” mentioned Connie Smith, Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Well being Professionals.

Connie Smith additionally works at St. Francis. She mentioned workers was solely notified Friday, Dec. 16 of Ascension’s plans to shut the unit earlier than Christmas. 

In a press release, an Ascension spokeswoman informed FOX6 they’re transitioning the companies to the St. Mary’s and the St. Joseph campuses, saying partly: “This consolidation ensures entry to probably the most complete labor, supply and postpartum companies to all Ascension Wisconsin mothers and infants.”

St. Mary’s and St. Joe’s are each between a 15- and 20-minute drive from St. Francis, relying on site visitors. Smith mentioned that is an excessive amount of time.

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“Anyone in labor might actually ship in a automotive within the winter in the event that they’re in lively labor and making an attempt to get to a facility,” mentioned Smith.

Smith mentioned the choice may also reduce about 20 union jobs. 

Activists joined the march Tuesday, apprehensive this variation will disproportionately impression minorities on the south aspect.

“It’s going to hit probably the most weak populations of Milwaukee,” mentioned Alan Chavoya, Milwaukee Alliance Towards Racist and Political Oppression. 

Ascension assertion

“Ascension St. Francis Hospital shall be partnering with Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital Milwaukee and Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital – St. Joseph Campus to transition its labor and supply service to these websites of care. The final day for admission to Ascension St. Francis Labor and Supply unit shall be December 21, 2022, and the final deliberate discharge shall be December 23, 2022. Labor and Supply Unit associates will present extra maternal and fetal experience within the Ascension St. Francis Emergency Room via January 7, 2023, to make sure a easy transition. 

Underneath this new association, parents-to-be and infants can have entry to a excessive degree of toddler and obstetrical care, together with maternal-fetal medication and neonatal specialty care, a degree III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), 2

/7 obstetric emergency care, midwifery companies and extra. This consolidation ensures entry to probably the most complete labor, supply and postpartum companies to all Ascension Wisconsin mothers and infants.

Birthing companies leaders will work hand-in-hand with obstetricians and parents-to-be to make sure a seamless transition of care. Ascension St. Francis Hospital will proceed to supply gynecologic, prenatal and postpartum care. 

Ascension Wisconsin is dedicated to supporting Ascension St. Francis associates via this transition. Plans are in place to work with impacted associates to find out potential alternatives for transitioning to open positions at different Ascension Wisconsin amenities. 

Ascension Wisconsin stays dedicated to offering compassionate, customized, high-quality care, and this variation ensures that mothers, infants and all our sufferers will obtain the care they want.”