Meeting Draws Large Crowd
Courtesy of Rensselaer County
Residents packed a meeting on Wednesday evening, February 27th, to voice their concerns about the proposed closure of the Burdett Birth Center at Samaritan Hospital in Troy. Burdett is the only birth center in the county, and serves residents in multiple counties.
County Executive Steve McLaughlin and the County Legislature have stated opposition to the planned closure. County officials and local leaders have said the closure will create health, safety, and quality of life issues in the county and surrounding communities.
County officials have stated they believe the proposed closure should be shelved based on the state’s refusal to provide records on births in Rensselaer County, which were first requested six months ago by Mary Fran Wachunas, in her capacity as Public Health Director.
“The failure to provide these records means the public will not know the full extent of the impact a closure of Burdett would have. That is a disservice to the public, particularly in the areas served by Burdett,” said McLaughlin.
“Without these records being provided to the public, the application to close the Burdett Birth Center should be stopped. Steps should be taken to ensure these records are provided without further delay and that the public is fully informed about the real impacts of the closure,” added Wachunas.
A letter stating opposition to the closure signed by a bi-partisan group of elected officials was read by Assemblyman John McDonald at the forum held at Hudson Valley Community College.
