Healthcare workers in Chula Vista, Calif. gathered outside the Hotel Del Coronado to protest the closure of Scripps Mercy Hospital’s maternity ward on Saturday afternoon. The demonstrators chanted slogans such as “Babies over profits! Moms over profits!” as they called for quick access to maternity care, especially in cases of obstetrical emergencies.
Scripps Health gave a 90-day notice to consolidate the maternity ward with their hospital in Hillcrest last month. This decision disproportionately affects low-income women of color who may lack access to private transportation and 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, which is 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, stating that it can be a matter of minutes to save lives. Scripps Health responded by saying that the consolidation was necessary to meet increasing demands from patients coming through emergency rooms and other inpatient needs. They assured that they would maintain safe emergency labor and delivery services with appropriate staffing.
Despite impending closure, healthcare workers are not giving up hope yet. A nurse at Scripps Mercy Hospital expressed her fear that babies might not have a chance if the maternity ward closes. Some doctors had sent letters to the California Department of Public Health asking for an impact investigation, although the department clarified that no such requirement exists.
