The birthing unit at Newark-Wayne Community Hospital is now closed, but Rochester Regional Health has not yet decided what will replace it.
Inpatient labor and delivery, newborn nursery and postpartum services were formally suspended Sept. 3 following approval from the New York State Department of Health. Rochester Regional Health has said persistent staffing challenges made it difficult to safely sustain inpatient maternity services at the Newark hospital.
The space that housed those services is now under review.
“We will be evaluating how the space can best be utilized to meet the evolving healthcare needs of the community in the months ahead,” Newark-Wayne Community Hospital President Michael Rulffes said in a statement provided to the Times of Wayne County.
That means there is no announced replacement service, renovation plan or timeline yet for the former maternity wing.
The closure affected 37 employees, according to Rulffes. Some accepted other positions within Rochester Regional Health, while others took severance or pursued jobs elsewhere, including positions that allowed them to continue working in labor and delivery.
The health system has said the decision to close the birthing center came after years of considering alternatives. Rochester Regional Health cited both staffing difficulties and changes in community need, while saying patient and infant safety was the primary factor.
Pregnant patients who had planned to deliver at Newark-Wayne were redirected to Rochester General Hospital or other regional birthing centers. Outpatient prenatal services remain available through the Women’s Center in Newark and OB/GYN services in Geneva.
The maternity closure has also raised broader questions in Wayne County about the future of Newark-Wayne Community Hospital, including whether other services could eventually be reduced.
Rulffes told the Times of Wayne County that Rochester Regional Health has no plans or intentions to close the hospital or eliminate additional services.
“We remain committed to providing emergency, inpatient and outpatient services at Newark-Wayne Community Hospital,” Rulffes said, adding that the hospital remains an important source of care for surrounding communities.
For now, the future of the former birthing unit remains open. Rochester Regional Health says it plans to evaluate community health needs before deciding how the space will be used, while continuing to work with county and state officials on programs, resources and funding.
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