Fewer than 50 births led to Roseland hospital unit closure

Expectant mothers on Chicago's South Side now have fewer local options for childbirth following the closure of the labor and delivery unit at Roseland Community Hospital. The shutdown became official at 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, ending a service that residents relied on for deliveries in their immediate area.

Hospital officials attributed the decision to declining birth rates and financial constraints. The hospital’s chief executive officer stated that fewer than 50 babies were on track to be delivered at the facility by the end of the year. This figure served as the primary metric for the operational decision to close the department.

The closure forces many patients to travel at least 20 minutes to access the nearest alternative services. Community activists and residents expressed concern over this increased distance. Andrew Holmes, a crisis responder, placed blame on elected officials and the health care industry for what he described as negligence. He argued that these groups failed to fight for the unit to remain open.

Dr. Joy West, Chair of the OBGYN Department at Roseland Community Hospital, voiced fear that maternal mortality rates would continue to rise. She specifically noted that the elevated rate of Black and Brown mothers dying in childbirth could worsen as a result of the closing. West told CBS News Chicago that the deepening concerns regarding these statistics were a major factor in the department's anxiety.

Longtime community members were present during the unit’s final hours to voice their opposition. Antonie Turner, a resident, stated that her children were born at the hospital and that others still need the facility. She emphasized that residents should not have to travel far to have their children delivered. Carolyn Wilson, another community member, described the availability of care during labor as very important.

Roseland is not the only facility losing obstetric services recently. St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet and Resurrection Medical Center in Chicago's Norwood Park neighborhood also ended their obstetrics services in the recent past. The pattern of closures has reduced the overall capacity for maternity care in the region.

For many Roseland patients, Advocate Trinity Hospital is the next closest option. However, the obstetrics unit at Advocate Trinity is also set to close next year, further limiting future access to delivery services in the area.