Nurses and union members rallied March 10 to protest Providence, R.I.-based Care New England's decision to close the birthing center and intensive care unit at its Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket, R.I., according to a WJAR report.
The protest took place outside of Care New England offices in Providence.
Care New England has said the hospital would move services to other facilities such as Women & Infants in Providence or Kent Hospital in Warwick, R.I., according to the report. Care New England has planned to shut services down by March 17, but must continue services until the state's department of health gives approval, WJAR reports.
However, the United Nurses and Allied Professionals, Local 5082 has claimed Care New England agreed to provide services until June 26 per its affiliation agreement filed in 2013, according to the report.
Nursing professionals told WJAR the birthing center at Memorial is extremely important and should be saved.
Care New England said the restructuring is part of meeting the requirements of healthcare reform, according to the report.
"For us that means consolidating services where they make sense," Angelleen Peters-Lewis, system CNO at Care New England, told WJAR. "But there are no dates until we hear from the department of health on when they will allow us to consolidate our services."
More articles on workforce and labor management:
How does healthcare job growth compare in 15 regions?
St. Mary's Hospital, University of Illinois Rockford help prepare students for rural healthcare practice: 6 things to know
Battle between Huntington Memorial Hospital, union will go to trial