Registered nurses at St. Rose Hospital (SRH) in Hayward recently protested the hospital’s decision to close its Family Birthing Center (FBC) on Feb. 18. The center served expecting and post-partum patients in Hayward as well as neighboring cities, including Castro Valley, Fremont and Union City. Nurses argue that the closure was sudden and contradicts previous statements by Alameda Health System (AHS), which recently acquired St. Rose, assuring the public that all services would remain intact.
In response, Alameda Health System stated that the FBC is “temporarily suspended” for 12 to 18 months as they work to evaluate and improve birthing services. They also claimed that the closure was not abrupt, saying that the decision was communicated months in advance during public meetings.
“Our commitment to the community remains unwavering. AHS and SRH’s shared goal is to provide safe, high-quality birthing services that attract more patients and serve all in our community, especially the most vulnerable among us,” they said.
The Family Birthing Center has been serving expecting mothers in the Southeast Bay Area for more than 55 years. It is known for its highly personalized care for new mothers. Since 2014, the center has received the BETA Healthcare Group Quest for Zero Initiative Recognition Award, which honors hospitals for high-quality obstetrical services.
However, the FBC had been experiencing a decline before AHS’s acquisition. Deliveries dropped to 20-30 per month, down from approximately 120 per month in the early 2000s, according to Maria Ronquillo, a nurse of 35 years. Ronquillo said she expected the acquisition, which took place on Nov. 1, to boost patient numbers. When the closure notice came on Nov. 20, staff say they were caught off guard.
“We were expecting to have new patients funneling in, we were expecting to have an uptick in births,” Ronquillo said.
AHS has arranged for expecting patients to receive care at Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, Washington Hospital in Fremont, and Wilma Chan Highland Hospital Campus in Oakland. However, Ronquillo is concerned about patients who typically walk into the FBC, fearing they may now be unsure of where to go.
“We just had a walk-in this week,” Ronquillo said on her last day at work. “Without us, the emergency room becomes a birthing center, and that isn’t sustainable.”
This article has been updated to attribute a statement made by Alameda Health System.
