Ambulances To Bypass Long Island College Hospital Starting At Midnight
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Beginning at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, ambulances responding to 911 calls will be diverted from Long Island College Hospital, as the Brooklyn facility prepares to close its doors next week.
As WCBS 880's Marla Diamond reported, EMTs answering calls in Brooklyn Heights, Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill and Red Hook will travel the extra miles to transport patients to Lutheran Medical Center and Kings County Hospital Center.
A deal between State University of New York, LICH's owner, and Brooklyn Health Partners to keep the facility open fell through last week. The hospital is set to close May 22.
Ambulances To Bypass Long Island College Hospital Starting At Midnight
SUNY, however, is in talks with another bidder, but a full-service hospital is not in the plans.
Mayor Bill de Blasio, who was elected in part on a vow to save Long Island College Hospital, said he is concerned about the extra amount of time ambulances will now have to travel.
"I was concerned when this happened last year, and we fought to correct the situation," de Blasio said. "And look, I think what we have to do here is get the long-term health care provider in place immediately, and that's going to allow us then to take the other steps to secure health care for the community.
"I'm confident that there's going to be a strong plan that will provide substantial health care for the community that will be financially viable for the long term," the mayor added.
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