Community members told Nashville, Tenn.-based Meharry Medical College and Nashville (Tenn.) General Hospital officials during a meeting Tuesday to encourage the city to provide funding to maintain the full-service hospital, Nashville Public Radio reports.
The listening session Tuesday was organized by the 11-member panel created by Meharry Medical College to evaluate and issue recommendations to city officials about the future of Nashville General. The panel had recently come under fire for conducting closed-door meetings and failing to inform the public of its actions, the report states.
During the meeting, community members reportedly accused Nashville Mayor Megan Barry of ignoring the needs of the city's poorest residents, according to the report.
Ms. Barry recently revealed plans to slow down efforts to end inpatient services at the hospital. However, the Metropolitan Council has yet to approve a $20 million mid-year cash infusion necessary to keep the hospital operational.
Officials from Meharry and Nashville General reportedly did not speak during the session.