NOW-NYS Supports Bellevue Woman's Hospital

ALBANY, NY (06/08/2007)(readMedia)-- On Tuesday, June 12, members of the National Organization for Women-New York State (NOW-NYS) will raise their voices and come together in support of Bellevue Woman's Hospital in Niskayuna. The event will take place at 10:30 am, at the LCA Press Room, in the Legislative Office Building.

Members of NOW-NYS and other supporters of women’s comprehensive health services will demand that the New York State Legislature and Governor Spitzer stand strong to support women’s health and ensure that Bellevue Woman's Hospital will remain open.

It is clear that the conclusions and recommendations by the Berger Commission to close Bellevue Woman's Hospital are both deeply flawed and destructive in their impact on the provision of high quality women’s healthcare. We must recognize that women have special healthcare needs. Those needs were ignored by the Berger Report and not considered in the recommendations. The women of New York State deserve to have a hospital such as Bellevue. It is their right.

The growing trend of hospital mergers will also be addressed. Community hospitals are increasingly under strain to stay afloat economically. While some mergers may be beneficial to certain communities, other mergers may result in the reduction of reproductive health services for women. This is unacceptable.

The National Organization for Women-New York State is comprised of over 40,000 supporters. NOW-NYS seeks to achieve full equality for women.

-30-