Milwaukee Public Safety and Health Committee urges Ascension St. Francis to reconsider closure of labor and delivery unit

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee Public Safety Committee approved a resolution urging a local hospital system to reconsider closing their labor and delivery unit.

The committee approved a resolution urging Ascension St. Francis hospital to reconsider their decision.

It's been three months since the hospital announced it would be ending these services.

Ascension St. Francis now refers expectant mothers to their Columbia St. Mary's and St. Joseph campuses for labor and delivery.

Several Common Council members have been in opposition, citing the negative impact this will have on people of color who now have to travel further for care.

Several community members shared their concerns during Friday morning's committee meeting.

"Health is something that we all want to have, and I think we need to make sure that people who can't speak out for themselves, that we are doing that and that this business is being just and taking care of clients to the best of their abilities," one woman said.

Others also expressed concerns with the quality of care provided at the hospital.

The committee stated that hospital representatives were invited to the meeting but declined to attend in person and instead sent a four-page letter that was read in part during the meeting.

CBS 58 reached out to Ascension Wisconsin for comment. A spokesperson sent us a statement:

“Ascension Wisconsin provided the Milwaukee Common Council Public Safety and Health Committee a four-page written statement about our continued care support for the community and our decision to relocate labor and delivery services. We also reassured the Common Council that Ascension St. Francis Hospital continues to take care of moms and babies both leading up to and after childbirth.”