JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Many families expressed their frustration with UF Health Saturday morning.
A group protested the closing of the UF Health Birth Center.
In a statement to First Coast News, a UF Health representative said:
UF Health remains committed to providing the best care possible to all of our patients, including a wide range of options for mothers-to-be in our state-of-the-art labor and delivery unit at UF Health North. Our Birth Center continues to provide services to current patients and will remain open until July 31. Our expert team of physicians and caregivers will offer flexible birth plans through UF Health Women’s Specialists – North for those whose expected delivery date is after July 31.
We know our patients value choices and we are committed to working collaboratively with them to create a flexible birth plan that reflects their preferences whenever possible and preserves many of the features traditionally associated with our Birth Center. That includes the option of a natural birth experience using experienced midwives, which can take place in our spacious labor and delivery suites that are among the most advanced in medicine.
We appreciate the passion of those who have supported the Birth Center and will continue to work with the community to give patients the best possible options for their care.
Sarah Locke, a mom who organized the protest, told First Coast News she gave birth in the birth center to her son Bennett on July 31, 2018.
That’s the same month and day the center is expected to close in 2019.
She’s frustrated with UF Health’s decision.
“They changed everything for us and it breaks our heart that these folks that became so close to us, the midwives have become part of our family, they’re going to be out of a job," Locke said. "The nest isn’t going to be here and it’s one of a kind in all of Florida.”
UF health said their midwives will serve in different capacities at the hospital.