Planned Parenthood to close four Vermont health centers next month

Deliberate Parenthood of Northern New England plans to shut 5 part-time well being facilities — 4 of that are in Vermont, and one other on the border in New Hampshire — and develop the hours of seven others, the group mentioned in a Friday afternoon press launch. 

The modifications are meant “to make sure the group is sustainable and capable of meet the wants of the area, sufferers, and workers long run,” Deliberate Parenthood mentioned within the announcement.

In whole, Deliberate Parenthood at present operates 11 well being facilities in Vermont. The 4 slated to shut June 12 are positioned in Bennington, Hyde Park, Middlebury and St. Albans. Amongst them, Bennington is the one location that at present presents abortion companies. 

The Deliberate Parenthood well being heart in Claremont, New Hampshire, can also be set to shut. The 4 remaining New Hampshire places are all positioned within the southern a part of the state.

All 4 of Deliberate Parenthood’s clinics in Maine are staying open.

The group mentioned the closures will enable it to develop the times of operation to a minimal of 4 or 5 days every week in any respect of its remaining well being facilities. These expansions will happen over the following yr.

The announcement comes as federally protected abortion entry is beneath risk. The U.S. Supreme Court docket seems poised to strike down the fitting to abortion, in keeping with a leaked draft of the bulk opinion.

If the court docket’s landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling had been overturned, abortion laws could be ruled by state legislation. The U.S. Senate didn’t codify Roe into legislation on Wednesday. Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., supported the unsuccessful effort.

Beneath present state legislation, abortion would stay authorized in Vermont — and voters within the state are slated to weigh on this November on whether or not to enshrine abortion rights within the Vermont Structure. 

Lucy Leriche, vice chairman of public affairs at Deliberate Parenthood Vermont Motion Fund, advised VTDigger final week that Vermont’s clinics are anticipating an inflow of out-of-state sufferers who can’t entry abortions at residence.

After the Bennington location closes, 5 Deliberate Parenthood clinics within the state will proceed to carry out abortions.

Kai Williams, Deliberate Parenthood of Northern New England’s senior vice chairman of well being care supply, known as the closures a “tough however strategic choice” that might enable the group to “rise to the second that we’re in,” in keeping with the discharge.

Deliberate Parenthood mentioned it’s increasing the times of operation at its Barre, Brattleboro and Williston places. It’s additionally planning to develop the hours of the well being heart in Exeter, New Hampshire, in addition to three in Maine.

“Our sufferers and our long-term skill to offer care are on the heart of each choice we make,” Williams mentioned within the launch. “We imagine these selections will be certain that we will proceed to serve northern New England for generations to return.”

There are not any plans to alter hours on the places in Burlington, Rutland, St. Johnsbury and White River Junction.