The Women's Health Service of the HHC North Bronx Healthcare Network has operated at two locations, Jacobi Medical Center and North Central Bronx Hospital (NCBH). Effective Monday August 12th, Labor and Delivery services and Newborn Services at NCBH will be suspended and all deliveries and inpatient obstetrical and newborn services will be consolidated at Jacobi Medical Center.

By consolidating labor and delivery service from two campuses at NCBH and Jacobi, to one campus at Jacobi, we will be better able to target resources and ensure optimal staffing to provide the most comprehensive, safe and efficient model of inpatient obstetrical and gynecological care for our patients. NCBH will continue to provide all outpatient women's health services and will connect pre-natal patients to Jacobi or other HHC or non-HHC hospitals to deliver their babies. We are committed to making this a smooth transition for patients and staff.

Full ambulatory/outpatient obstetric (OB) and gynecological services (GYN) will continue at both hospital sites. NCBH patients will be able to continue receiving pre and post-natal care at NCBH, as well as inpatient gynecological services. The NCBH emergency room will continue to treat GYN emergencies and urgent situations. NCBH patients will be offered referrals to Jacobi Medical Center and other HHC and non-HHC hospitals for their labor and delivery. A dedicated ambulance service will be made available to patients at no cost. In addition, a free shuttle service between the two hospitals will continue to be offered to patients and staff.

No staff member who works in the NCBH unit will lose their job. Some staff may remain at NCBH to work in the ambulatory OB/GYN or inpatient GYN service and others will be able to work at the consolidated labor and delivery services at Jacobi.

In the last year, there have been about 1,500 deliveries at NCBH and about 1,900 deliveries at Jacobi. With consolidation of staff at Jacobi, there will be sufficient capacity to handle the projected additional deliveries there. The North Bronx Healthcare Network is in the process of recruiting a new Director of Obstetrical and Gynecological services to oversee this important area of service delivery at both hospitals. Whether this consolidation should be temporary or permanent is under review. HHC remains firmly committed to NCBH's essential role as a community hospital serving the Northwest Bronx.

Patients who need information can call 718-519-2127 day or night.