In protest of the closure of Scripps Mercy Hospital’s maternity ward in Chula Vista, healthcare workers gathered outside the Hotel Del Coronado in Coronado, Calif. on Saturday afternoon. They chanted slogans such as “Babies over profits! Moms over profits!” as they urged for quick access to maternity care.
Scripps Health had given a 90-day notice last month to consolidate the maternity ward with their hospital in Hillcrest, San Diego. This decision disproportionately affects low-income women of color who lack access to private transportation and may struggle to travel long distances for maternity care. The closure would leave only one maternity unit in the southern part of the county at Sharp Chula Vista Hospital, 12 miles away from Chula Vista.
Dr. Susanna Chou, one of the leaders of the protest, emphasized the importance of having quick access to maternity care in case of obstetrical emergencies, stating that it can be a matter of minutes in order to save the lives of both mother and baby. Scripps Health responded by saying that the consolidation was necessary to meet the increasing demands of patients coming in through the emergency room and for other inpatient needs. They ensured that they would maintain safe emergency labor and delivery services with appropriate staffing.
Despite this impending closure, healthcare workers have not given up hope yet. A nurse at Scripps Mercy Hospital, Gilda Recodo, expressed her fear that babies might not have the opportunity to survive if the maternity ward closes. Some doctors had sent letters to the California Department of Public Health for an impact investigation, although the department clarified that no such requirement exists.
