January 28, 2015
HORNELL, NY – Hornell Deputy Mayor John Buckley issued the following statement this morning, about the St. James Hospital New Vision:
“The ‘New Vision’ will cost our community hundreds of jobs, drastically reduce the quality of healthcare in our area, and ultimately put lives at risk.'”
Buckley is referring to Hospital CEO Jennifer Sullivan’s plans for an Independent St. James Mercy Hospital. Yesterday, Sullivan outlined plans for what she called an Independent St. James. She says there will be an emergency department, beds for short stays, ambulatory surgery, imaging and laboratory services. Sullivan also announced that there will be almost 600 layoff, and she indicates that two thirds of that number will be rehired locally by the “new vision” medical facilities.
Buckley and critics of the hospital administration say the plans for an “Independent St. James” are vague, and that they are doubtful that hundreds of employees will actually be rehired.
