Westerly Hospital to Stop Delivering Babies

The Westerly Sun is reporting that Westerly Hospital management and executives were told Tuesday that the hospital would no longer deliver babies after June 1.

Hospital administrators, the Sun said, told staff that a plan was being developed for the rest of the ob-gyn services.

Michael O'Farrell, the director of public relations for Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, which is in the midst of a complicated purchase of The Westerly Hospital, issued the following statement:

Based on all the information available, we support the mastership’s decision.

Due to low patient volumes and the staffing shortages, this, while difficult, is the right decision.

We have shared our vision and ideas with the mastership and will continue to work toward a plan to provide the best women’s health services to the Westerly community. Meanwhile, we are willing to assist the mastership in helping to stabilize the availability of gynecological, prenatal and post-partum obstetrical services in the Westerly service area.

The Westerly Hospital is currently in receivership and is being run by Mark Russo, a lawyer who was appointed the hospital's "special master," while the $69 million sale to L+M is worked out.

Check back with Patch for more information when it becomes available.