SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- Mercy Medical Center announced it will temporarily suspend maternity and newborn services at its Family Life Center due to ongoing staffing shortages, adding strain to Western Massachusetts’ already limited birthing options.

The hospital said in a statement that “significant provider and nurse staffing constraints that have persisted over several months despite concerted efforts to recruit and retain Family Life Center clinical colleagues” led to the difficult decision.  The last day for maternity and newborn services at the center will be December 8,

Certified nurse midwives will continue to provide pre- and post-natal care at Mercy’s outpatient sites throughout the region.  The hospital will also continue to support patients and provide hospital-based care at Baystate Medical Center through a cooperative agreement.  The hospital said it is working with impacted employees about available positions and other potential options during the transition.

Baystate Health emphasized that message and said in a statement: “The partnership ensures continuous access to Baystate Medical Center’s comprehensive obstetric, anesthesia, and neonatal support services available 24/7. Both Baystate Health and Mercy Medical Center share a vision of keeping high-quality, compassionate care local for families in the greater Springfield area.”

The closure puts additional pressure on the handful of birthing centers and services in Western Massachusetts, particularly following the closure of Holyoke Medical Center’s birthing center in 2020.  Robin Sauve, executive director of the Baystate OB-GYN Group, said the challenge extends beyond facility capacity.  “The big challenge is call,” Sauve explained. “We have to have somebody present 365 days a year 24/7.”

At Baystate OB/GYN Group, there are around 24,000 active patients at a time - with only eight providers who are able to deliver babies – and that number is expected to rise following the Family Life Center’s closure.

The announcement has drawn concern from community members. Comments on Western Mass News’ Facebook post about the closure included worries about capacity and safety.  “So there’s only two area hospitals where babies are delivered and we’re just going to shut one of them down?  What kind of overload is that going to have at Baystate now trying to find rooms to deliver twice the amount of kids?... That puts mothers and babies in danger if there aren’t adequate facilities or rooms,” wrote Kelly Cote.

The following are other birthing centers or hospitals in western Massachusetts:

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