Milwaukee city leaders hear concerns about loss of labor & delivery resources on near south side

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Coalition to Save St. Francis is asking Milwaukee leaders to help re-open the labor and delivery unit after it closed on short notice in December 2022.

Healthcare workers spoke passionately about problems plaguing Ascension's St. Francis Hospital on Milwaukee's south side during the city's Public Safety and Health Committee meeting on Thursday, Jan. 26.

"We have gone from a facility of just over 100 medical beds to under 30 since Ascension has taken over," Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals Registered Nurse Bargaining Unit President at St. Francis Tracey Schwerdtfeger said.

Ascension Wisconsin closed its labor and delivery unit at St. Francis Hospital just before Christmas, citing a loss of providers and low birthing volumes.

Employees argue the healthcare system hasn't made an effort to replace doctors in years. 

"We had physicians who wanted to come to St. Francis, work at St. Francis and grow the program, but they were not provided that opportunity," Schwerdtfeger said. 

St. Francis employees fear what's left of the hospital services will soon follow, leaving limited resources on the city's near south side.

City of Milwaukee Health Department Medical Director Dr. Heather Paradis weighed in. 

"Overall access to and receipt of quality and comprehensive maternity care may not necessarily be compromised by an individual decision to close a birthing unit," Paradis said.

Some committee members voiced their support to the Coalition to Save St. Francis.

"We're noticing a pattern here that's not good," Ald. Mark Borkowski said. 

Ascension Wisconsin representatives were invited but didn't show.

Committee members said they'll give their representatives a chance to share their side of the issue in February.

Ascension Wisconsin released the following statement:

Like other health systems across the state and country, Ascension Wisconsin has been impacted by the national shortage of caregivers. We continue to actively recruit clinical staff to fill available positions and mitigate these challenges through strategies that include increased direct hiring combined with staffing bonuses and new retention efforts. Since December, we’ve hired 84 nurses and nursing support to join our team at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital. Ascension Wisconsin is committed to serving the people in Milwaukee and are grateful for the ongoing dedication and commitment of our associates and affiliated clinicians.