The state's Office of Health Strategy has denied Trinity Health's request to close the Johnson Memorial Hospital's Labor and Delivery Unit in Stafford.
The healthcare system asked for the change in 2022 due to staffing shortages. But the state says it failed to meet the burden of proof required by law.
Johnson Memorial Hospital, which is owned by Trinity Health New England, previously put what it said was a temporary pause on the labor and delivery services “in response to pandemic-related staffing challenges which resulted in staff turnover and difficulty in recruitment of new, qualified staff.”
In a statement, Trinity Health said they're disappointed that their application for a Certificate of Need was denied.
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"This decision comes after Johnson officials fully participated in a lengthy and detailed information gathering process and a public hearing on the matter," a spokesperson said.
Senator Jeff Gordon (R-Woodstock) said the decision is good news, noting that keeping inpatient labor and delivery services is an issue he's been fighting for.
“When we have bad weather, just like we recently had, if someone is pregnant and they have a complication and they are actually going into labor and need to deliver, and you don't have local service available, how are they going to get to another place, get into Hartford or even Springfield?” Gordon said.
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He said officials should be working with the hospital to see what can be done about staffing.
“In a rural setting, small towns in north eastern Connecticut, you don’t have a lot of other options to go to,” Gordon said.
Residents in the area are happy to hear that labor and delivery services are here to stay.
“I think it’s very beneficial to have that available for the local residents,” Beth Soukup, of Stafford Springs, said. “I think it’s great that they are keeping it, hopefully they can staff the units keep the hospital up and going.”
“It’s convenient. It was easy. It’s a good hospital, I’m glad they are not shutting the whole thing down,” Elaine Vanwingerden, of Somers, said. “I understand the situation with the staffing and I can understand them wanting to close it, I know for a lot of people they don't want to go to Saint Francis, they don’t want to go to Springfield but with the economy the way that it is, it is what it is.”
Trinity said they're now considering next steps, and they're committed to working with state officials to resolve the issue.
