CLEVELAND — University Hospitals is shutting down parts of their facility in Bedford. Bedford residents received a thirty day notice.
Michael Mallis, who grew up in the area and is now the city manager for Bedford, was emotional when discussing the closure of the facility.
“There’s anger, there’s frustration,” Mallis said.
University Hospitals claimed their reason for shutting down emergency, surgery and inpatient services is because of staffing issues. Mallis sees it as the hospital abandoning the Bedford community.
“On the southeast side of Cleveland with a high percentage of senior citizens, we have a high percentage of economically challenged, and we have a high percentage of minorities in our communities and the decision for them to abandon this area is just wrong,” he said.
University Hospitals released a video statement from their CEO, Dr. Cliff Megerian, which stated that they have plans to invest back in Bedford.
“We intend to invest in new programs and new services for Bedford and Richmond Heights that will match the specific needs of these communities. These services will address four key areas,” Megerian said. “Wellness and safety, maternal and child health, food security and workforce development.”
However, Mallis and the city council do not see this as enough, which is why they filed a restraining order to keep the facilities open.
“It’s why we made an effort on Monday, urging them to reconsider this and when they didn’t, you know, we were forced to take the action that we are,” Mallis said. “You know we owe it to our community.”
The immediate restraining order was denied, but the city council is preparing for a hearing as early as Tuesday on this issue.
