CLEVELAND — University Hospitals closed some of its facilities due to what it said were staffing issues. In Bedford, it shut down outpatient, emergency and surgery services.
What You Need To Know
- University Hospitals closed part of its Bedford facility
- The city of Bedford is taking legal action and trying to keep some of the facility open
- Bedford has reportedly been struggling to fulfill medical needs since the emergency room shut down
- A court date has been set for Sept. 20
The city of Bedford filed a restraining order to keep the hospital open, but a court denied it. The court also pushed back the court date.
Bedford City Manager Michael Mallis spoke out about the effects that the closed facilities would have had on the city.
“We had a senior citizen suffer a minor stroke, we were unable to respond,” Mallis said. “We were at Ahuja for 30 minutes and that resident, thankfully, she is okay. But that resident, we had to rely on mutual aid.”
Mallis and other Bedford citizens fear the outcome of what could happen if the facility, specifically the emergency room, stays permanently closed.
“Those are the specific examples that we talk about as far as public health and public safety and why this, particularly emergency room, is vital to the southeast side,” he said.
University Hospitals Senior Media Relations Strategist George Stamatis said the hospital is confident in its decision with the Bedford facility.
“Our top priority as a health system is to provide the safest, highest quality care for our patients, and the service changes at Bedford are consistent with that goal,” he said.
Meditations for the case begin Monday and a new court date is Sept. 20.
