March 15, 2019 - 9:41 AM
SPRINGFIELD, Vt. - Officials at Springfield Hospital in Vermont say they may need to close its childbirth centre as part of a plan to cut $6.5 million from its budget.
Vermont Public Radio reports hospital interim CEO Michael Halstead says the board is willing to try reconfiguring costs instead of closing the centre.
He says the board is sensitive to how far a woman would have to travel without the service in the community.
A recent financial audit found the hospital lost $14 million over the past two years.
Hospital officials announced in February it would cut 27 jobs and reduce staff wages by 10 per cent.
Halstead says they cannot have too many services that are losing money or else they will have trouble maintaining the entire facility.
News from © The Associated Press, 2019