Coronavirus: Cape Cod Healthcare Responds To Maternity Petition

FALMOUTH, MA — A petition to re-open the maternity ward at Falmouth Hospital has gathered over 2,400 signatures, as of Monday morning. The birth center was closed last week and converted to ICU units to help nurses and doctors combat the new coronavirus. Maternity services were transferred to Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis.

Petition author Katherine Kuusela wrote she hoped the petition would highlight the impact of closing will have on families who rely on the birthing center's services.

"It is heartbreaking to hear mothers will not have this incredible resource available in the Birth Center at Falmouth Hospital," Kuusela wrote. "The amazing birthing experience, continuity of care extending to lactation consultation, along with the breastfeeding support group needs to be locally accessible."

Cape Cod Healthcare CEO Michael Lauf responded to the petition. He praised petition organizers for their efforts but said the hospitals have a responsibility to keep people safe, especially during the COVID-19 crisis.

"I think it's great that people care so much about the community and the services in it," Lauf said. "It's also our responsibility to make sure we can serve a community in a crisis, and we have to do that."

"This was not done in anyway shape or form in an off-cuff way," Lauf said. "This was done in a careful way ... We understand that this is an emotional time, and this is a great service, but we also have a responsibility to the community."

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