News 12 Staff

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Jan 17, 2024, 10:30 PM

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Updated

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A rally was held Thursday evening in Smithtown over the expected closure of the maternity ward at St. Catherine of Siena Hospital.

Nurses from the unit spoke out in a public forum.

The hospital's maternity ward is set to close Feb.1. The department includes labor and delivery, post-partum and the NICU.

Nurses tell News 12 the closure will force patients to travel far away for care.

Catholic Health said there are not enough doctors to keep the unit open.

It says it tried to negotiate with OB-GYN partners, but they say the doctors will no loner be able to deliver services at the hospital because of changes to their private employment and current contract obligations.