South Bay healthcare workers protest over maternity ward closure
CHULA VISTA, Calif., – Tuesday healthcare workers took to the streets, protesting the planned closure of a maternity ward at Scripps Mercy Chula Vista.
This comes a few weeks after Scripps Health made public a plan to dissolve the obstetrics unit there, pushing all labor and delivery up to Scripps Mercy Hillcrest. The unit has 30 beds and is known for its service to local minority communities.
“They’re not talking about the black and brown but they’re certainly talking about the green,” said Dr. Lesley Nurse, a former OBGYN with Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista.
In response, dozens of families, doctors and nurses marched with signs covered in messaging encouraging honks, whistles and cheers along the South Bay. The group began at the Chula Vista mall and ended at city hall, demanding help from local leaders to encourage a statewide investigation into the decision.
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Many of the chants included phrases such as, “No closure, no fear, labor and delivery, keep it here.”
One of the main arguments surrounding their pleas is centered around the essence of time.
“If a mom comes in with an emergency, it is by law you have to be able to deliver her within 20 minutes,” said Dr. Nurse.
Because of the move, Scripps’ patients in the South Bay now have to head to Hillcrest at Scripps Mercy San Diego for care. That trek is 12 miles up north. “In the middle of the night, maybe you can get door to door in 20 minutes.”
Diep Ho understands the dilemma well. She did her residency at Scripps Chula Vista Family Medicine. She’s also a mom.
“I was at work and I had to rush to the nearest labor and delivery, and that took a 20 to 25-minute ride,” said Ho, while recalling the delivery of her son back in 2019.
However, by the time she got to the nearest hospital, she said, “They couldn’t get the baby out fast enough; he was black and blue.”
Five days later, her baby boy died in the NICU.
Scripps Health says the closure will help patient demand in the South Bay relieving its busy emergency department.
Here’s the latest from officials following the release of a statement this week:
“Scripps is committed to maintaining safe, high-quality emergency obstetrics services at Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista, both now and after the consolidation with Scripps Mercy San Diego is complete. We are continuing to work on the specific operational details of our OB services plan at Chula Vista as we move through the early stages of the 90-day regulatory notice period. We will ensure safe labor and delivery services with appropriate staffing, as well as safe handoffs and transfers after delivery, including neonatal transfers requiring intensive care with our partners at Rady Children’s Hospital. In addition, Scripps is providing full transparency to the California Department of Public Health and is completing all regulatory requirements related to this transition.”
Meanwhile, Mayor John McCann says he is discussing reaching out to state leaders to see if there’s a way to maintain the maternity ward.
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