SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) – One local birthing center has announced that they will be temporarily suspend services.

Mercy Medical Center said, in a statement, they made the “difficult decision” to suspend maternity and newborn services at their Family Life Center on December 8 “due to significant provider and nurse staffing constraints that have persisted over several months despite concerted efforts to recruit and retain [Family Life Center] clinical colleagues.”

The Certified Nurse Midwives will continue to provide prenatal and postnatal care, with physician collaboration, in Mercy’s outpatient sites the region. In addition, Mercy will support patients and provide hospital-based care, including triage and delivery services, at Baystate Medical Center through a cooperative agreement with Baystate Health.

Amid the temporary closure, “we will continue to pursue all options to resume continuous, safe, high-quality maternity care at Mercy Medical Center,” the hospital explained, adding that the hospital is working with impacted employees about available positions and other options during this time.

Western Mass News will continue to follow this story and will have more information as it becomes available.

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