NEW YORK — Health care staff are taking a stand in opposition to the closure of midwifery companies at a hospital in Inwood, Manhattan. 

CBS New York’s Natalie Duddridge spoke to midwives about the way it’s impacting a group already thought-about underserved.

“We’re vital. We’re vital to the community,” mentioned Yvonne Torres, who has been a midwife at NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital for 35 years. “I can walk along Broadway and see women that I delivered and also taken care of the children that I’ve delivered.”

It got here as a shock when the Allen Hospital introduced the closure of its midwifery program with no clarification.

“It happened all of a sudden … They were gonna do more for the community, have more midwives, have more doctors, have more nurse practitioners, and then two weeks later, we get a letter that we’re terminated,” Torres mentioned.

A spokesperson for NewYork-Presbyterian mentioned:

“We are evolving our perinatal care model and care teams at NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital, with a focus on increasing access to the highest standard of care, including the best and most experienced clinicians.”

In complete, seven midwives shall be terminated, efficient March 3.

“That’s not enough time to hire more staff to staff the labor and delivery room. It’s going to be a very unsafe situation for patients,” midwife Alison McDonald mentioned.

McDonald says midwives already present the best commonplace of care. She was impressed to change into a midwife after utilizing one throughout her labor.

“I just had a wonderful experience. It’s unlike any other health care I’ve received,” she mentioned. “Midwives certainly have a lower C-section rate. I know the midwives I saw during my pregnancy had maybe a 12% C-section rate compared with higher than 30% in the city overall.”

Experts says they play an important position in decreasing maternal and toddler mortality charges.

“We have to prioritize not only maternal health, but infant mortality,” mentioned New York City Councilmember Carmen de la Rosa.

Community members say the closure raises considerations about well being inequities Black and Brown girls already face.

“I hope they’re able to fight it through and succeed,” one particular person mentioned.

“We call upon the hospital’s administration to reconsider their decision,” mentioned Ingrid Deler-Garcia, a nurse midwife.

Advocates say some cuts do not heal. The New York State Nurses Association is demanding the hospital keep this system.