For Immediate release
October 29, 2010
Etre Challenges Janowski’s Vote on Closing Rockville Hospital Maternity Ward
VERNON – Mark Etre, Republican candidate for the 56th Assembly District today challenged incumbent Democrat Claire Janowski to explain to voters why she approved a measure that allowed Rockville General Hospital to close its maternity unit without a public hearing.
“Rockville General is a key element of the Vernon-Rockville economic structure and anything that happens there, particularly a reduction in services, affects the entire community. To vote for a measure that allowed the hospital to close its maternity ward with no notice to the community and no public hearing is unconscionable,” Etre said.
Republican Town Chairman Harold Cummings said that “Representative Janowski voted for Public Act 10-179. Section 87 of that act eliminated the requirement that hospitals give notice to the community of such drastic changes in hospital services, and hold a public hearing so area citizens can have input into the decision.”
“There is no appropriate explanation for approving that measure,” Etre said, “even the worn-out claim that ‘I didn’t have time to read it.‘ Nothing that is done in the Legislature can claim to be of such an emergency nature that there is no time to read and understand each bill before voting on it.”
The new law went into effect on October 1, 2010. Cummings said the decision to close the maternity ward at Rockville Hospital and move its services to Manchester Memorial Hospital was a shock even to some staff at the hospital. “Dr. Ellen Marmer and other Rockville physicians appeared at the Vernon Town Council meeting on Tuesday, September 19th to express their outrage at the termination of maternity services in Rockville,” Cummings said.
Etre added that it is especially galling that the requirement for a public hearing is no longer in effect. “Rockville cannot afford to lose Rockville hospital,” Etre said. “With the law passed by State Representative Janowski, it looks like we could lose it, one department at a time, and we wouldn’t even know it until it was too late.”
Rockville General Hospital is a 102-bed acute care facility that opened in 1921. It belongs to the Eastern Connecticut Health Care network. Under the new law, passed in the last legislative session, the hospital is required only to give the state 60 days notice of a change in services.
The ECHN website link to Rockville General still advertises its maternity section, stating “At the Birthplace at Rockville General Hospital, we want to make the birth of your child a joyful, memorable and medically secure experience. We offer you as many choices and as much flexibility as possible in your care. Our experienced, caring staff explains and respects your options before, during and after the birth of your child. For a free tour of The Birthplace at Rockville General Hospital, please call (860) 872-5153.”
Who do you trust now ?
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Tags: Claire Janowski, CT, Dobsonville, Eastern Connecticut Healthcare Network, ECHN, Mark Etre, RGH, Rockville, Rockville General Hospital, Talcottville, Vernon, www.ECHN.org, www.Etre2010.com
