WASHINGTON RALLIES FOR THE MATERNITY CARE CRISIS IN PENNSYLVANIA

          HARRISBURG, June 12: In an ongoing effort to raise awareness of the closing of maternity wards in Philadelphia and throughout the Commonwealth, state Sen. LeAnna M. Washington (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) today rallied with mothers, fathers, babies and medical officials to bring attention to the OB crisis in all of Pennsylvania and especially Philadelphia.

          “It is important that we take action to prevent the closing of these very important care facilities,” Washington said. “It is my hope that this rally will bring about a change in policy and in the way we view expecting mothers and their need for adequate care.”

          Since 1997, 13 hospitals in the five-county Philadelphia region have closed their obstetrics wards, even though the number of births per year in the region has remained steady, according to the Maternity Care Coalition.

          The closures have a major impact on expectant mothers, their newborn children and the hospitals that still have obstetrics.

          Expectant mothers are limited by the options that their healthcare providers or their local hospitals offer. Without a nearby maternity ward, expectant moms are forced to travel further.

          Subsequently, some mothers may not get the important pre-natal and postpartum care they need and deserve. That, undoubtedly, will affect the health and well-being of their child.

          Additionally, hospitals, many of which are already short-staffed, are seeing an increase in patients.