York Hospital closing birthing center. Wentworth-Douglass to accept all patients.

YORK, Maine — York Hospital announced it will close its birthing center this month, joining a national trend that has already happened at Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New Hampshire.

York Hospital will close the hospital’s inpatient birthing unit Sept. 25, citing an ongoing, nationwide shortage of healthcare workers. The hospital is working closely with colleagues from Wentworth-Douglass Hospital of Dover, New Hampshire, which is part of the Mass General Brigham system, to ensure all York Hospital expectant mothers will continue to have access to the care they need.

A statistic provided by York Hospital, indicates a 2023 study published by the health care consulting firm Chartis found at least 217 U.S. hospitals have closed labor and delivery departments since 2011, including 19 within the last year.

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital is ready, leader says

The staff at Wentworth-Douglass are ready and waiting to care for all former York Hospital patients, said Nicole Pendenza, assistant vice president of its Women and Children's Center.

Pendenza said Wentworth-Douglass has made a commitment to being a center for births in New Hampshire's Seacoast region and southern Maine.

"We have made large investments in our center," she said. "We are definitely seeing the births and expect to do over 1,500 deliveries this year. In August, we had 162 deliveries, the most we have seen on record. ... We want to be the place you come to. Driving to Portland or Boston is hard for some, and we have made it easier for you to not have to."

Pendenza said the staff at York Hospital reached out to Wentworth-Douglass. She said both hospitals worked closely together to ensure as smooth a transition as possible for patients.

"We have been working with our whole team, making them available to our new patients," Pendenza said. "We are setting up tours and holding town halls beginning this week."

Pendenza said Wentworth-Douglass has five OB/GYN offices and a high-functioning labor and delivery floor that includes a NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) operating 24/7.

"We have a full labor and delivery unit, with 20 beds," she said. "We opened our new NICU two years ago, a level 2B center. There are OB/GYN doctors available in house, 24/7, as well as two certified midwifes and anesthesiologists. We have the capability and expertise to deliver babies as early as 32 weeks."

Wentworth-Douglass being part of Mass General Brigham means it has access to maternal fetal consultants and the ability to send mothers to Boston or to Maine Medical in more severe cases, Pendenza said.

York Hospital president explains decision

“We’re keenly aware of the impact that this difficult decision will have on our patients and our community," said Dr. Patrick Taylor, York Hospital's president and chief executive officer. "Multiple steps were taken to keep the department open, but unfortunately, worker shortages have left us unable to provide the level of consistent, high-quality care our patients deserve. I’m grateful to the team at Wentworth-Douglass for their assistance in ensuring the safety and uninterrupted care of our patients, and I’m confident they will continue to provide a higher level of care for both our mothers and babies.”

All York Hospital patients will continue to receive pre- and post-natal care on the York Hospital campus, with labor and delivery care provided at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital. Expectant mothers have the option of delivering at any hospital of their choosing.

"Patients can continue pre and post natal care with their current doctors," Pendenza said. "The deliveries will happen here, with our doctors. The York doctors do not currently have privileges here, but we are in talks about it currently."

Taylor said the decision was not forced by financial considerations, but by the continued decline of birth rates at the birthing center, along with the health care worker shortage, creating an environment in which York Hospital’s birthing center was no longer viable.

The decision at York Hospital is limited in scope to only labor and delivery services. The hospital will continue to provide the same gynecological care on its main campus, as well as pediatric services on its York and Wells campuses. No other departments or services are being considered for closure.

York Hospital invites all current obstetric patients to contact OB/GYN, Surgical & Midwifery Associates of York Hospital with any questions or concerns at (207) 351-3455.

Frisbee Memorial Hospital in Rochester closed its facility to deliveries earlier this year, directing births to Portsmouth Regional Hospital, as both hospitals are owned by HCA Healthcare. Pendenza noted some have chosen Wentworth-Douglass, which is closer to Rochester. Frisbie leaders, too acknowledged this.

Previous story: Frisbie Hospital's plan to send baby deliveries to Portsmouth approved in $2.75M deal

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: York Hospital to end baby deliveries. Wentworth-Douglass steps up.