Yesterday's closing of St. Vincent's hospital could put an end to home births in the city, as 22 midwives—seven of whom practiced home births—were left without a hospital. According to state law, midwives must partner with a doctor or hospital to practice, and St. Vincent's was the only hospital in the city that supported home births. One expectant mother told the Daily News, "Home birth is what I want. I don't even know what my options are now."
Those midwives accounted for half of the city's home-birth midwives, who now must look for new doctors to support their practices. However, MBP Scott Stringer said in a statement he did not want to "send the practice of homebirth underground." Stringer met with midwives and members of the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation to discuss options, and said, "While we were unable to reach an agreement, I applaud HHC for undergoing deliberations, and I call on all hospitals and healthcare facilities around the city to do the same."
Former workers also continue to mourn the hospital's closing. Hospital mechanic Aubrey McKenzie told the Post, "I was here to put these signs up, and now I'm here to take them down. I got this job right out of high school. It's the only job I've ever known." Mayor Bloomberg said on his radio show that he felt sad, but the closure was inevitable. "I wish the hospital could stay open. But the bottom line is, it's not going to."
