Doctors, Lawmakers Rally To Try To Save Long Island College Hospital
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Doctors, nurses and some elected officials held a rally Thursday to try to save a cash-strapped hospital in Brooklyn.
Those in attendance outside of Long Island College Hospital in Cobble Hill chanted "Save our hospital!"
Officials said the impending closure could be imminent.
"We've been told to transfer all of our patients out by tomorrow," Dr. Alice Garner, chief of neonatal medicine at LICH, told WCBS 880's Marla Diamond. "Tell us we better not make any admissions, almost like a threat -- or else. Or else what?"
Doctors, Lawmakers Rally To Try To Save Long Island College Hospital
The transfer orders came despite a judge's ruling that the hospital remain open.
"This restraining order is in place until some judge says that it is not," Dr. Garner said.
City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio said the hospital could close by Sunday during this heat wave and they have put nothing in writing.
The hospital is run by the SUNY system.
"They're cowards. They won't come out here and talk to people," said de Blasio.
He and other elected officials stormed their way into the hospital and demanded to speak with the administrator, but they were turned away.
De Blasio, a Democratic candidate for mayor, was arrested last week at a rally for the hospital.
SUNY is considering selling Long Island College Hospital and has claimed that the institution loses about $1 million a week.
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