New York hospital suspends delivery services

A hospital in upstate New York has decided to halt their baby delivery services as 6 workers who work in the labor and maternity ward quit. The hospital had to take such actions because the staff believes that they would rather quit than comply with the state's vaccination mandates. This highlighted the issue that many healthcare facilities face which is a shortage of workers and hesitancy among healthcare workers to get vaccinated.  Gerald Cayer, the chief executive officer of Lewis County Health System said in an interview that the number of resignations the hospital received left them with no choice but to suspend the maternity services. Six out of eighteen workers in the maternity department resigned. The hospital was expected to deliver over 200 babies this year. 

 Since the Governor mandated vaccines by 27th September for New York's healthcare workers, around 30 employees of the hospital have resigned. Out of this 21 workers are employed in clinical areas. Mr. Cayer believes that if this continues, the hospital will have to suspend more services in order to deal with the shortage. 

Source: The New York Times