In a deeply concerning move, Prime Healthcare’s Centinela Hospital Medical Center announced it would close its Maternal Child Health Services on October 25 this year, leaving the Inglewood community without any Obstetrics, Labor and Delivery, or Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU).
The announcement has sent shockwaves through the community as this closure jeopardizes the well-being of mothers and newborns and exacerbates the existing disparities in Black maternal health.
Centinela Hospital is in California’s 61st District, where more than a quarter of the population is Black. The hospital has been a lifeline for those families in our community. For decades, it provided essential maternal and neonatal services, ensuring that mothers and newborns receive the care they need right in their own neighborhoods.
Now, these women will be forced to travel much longer distances to receive care, which can be particularly challenging for those with limited transportation or financial resources.
According to the Los Angeles County African American Infant and Maternal Mortality Initiative, Black babies in the region are two to three times more likely to die before their first birthday than babies of other races. Black women are four times more likely to die due to pregnancy and delivery or postpartum complications than women of other races. This is simply unacceptable, and the closure of Maternal and Child Health Services at Centinela Hospital will only make matters worse.
I urge Prime Healthcare to reconsider its decision to close its Maternal Child Health Services at Centinela Hospital. Black mothers and their babies deserve access to accessible, quality maternal and neonatal care just like anyone else.
This decision not only jeopardizes the health of our community but also reflects a blatant disregard for the dedicated healthcare workers who have tirelessly served our neighborhoods for years.
Our healthcare workers have been the backbone of our communities, especially during the trying times of the COVID-19 pandemic. They have worked tirelessly, often putting their own health at risk, to ensure that every patient receives the best care possible, including expectant families and newborn babies.
The decision to close these departments without proper consideration for the dedicated healthcare professionals who have served our community is a grave injustice. It undermines their efforts and sacrifices and sends a discouraging message to those on the frontlines.
It’s time for Prime Healthcare to respect our community’s needs, our healthcare workers’ dedication, and the urgent call for equitable healthcare access for Black families.
I stand alongside my community to demand that Prime Healthcare keep these essential services open at Centinela Hospital in Inglewood and respect the healthcare workers who have given their all to care for us. Together, we can ensure that every mother and newborn have the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their background or ZIP code.
Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood) is a California State Assemblymember for the 61st district, including the cities and communities of Gardena, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lenox, Los Angeles, Marina del Rey, Venice, West Athens, Westchester and Westmont in Los Angeles County.