Watsonville Community Hospital board members listen during a meeting on Mar. 25. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/Catchlight Local)
Town Hall Meeting
- 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22.
- Attend in person at Watsonville Civic Plaza, Community Room, 275 Main St., Watsonville.
WATSONVILLE >> Watsonville Community Hospital leaders are inviting residents to attend a public meeting Thursday, Oct. 22, to discuss its financial situation and hear community concerns about the potential closure of its maternity services.
The meeting will take place from 5:30 — 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room at Watsonville Civic Plaza.
On July 10, the hospital temporarily closed its neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) due to a nursing shortage. As hospital leaders reported in September, there were still no plans to reopen the unit. Now, hospital leaders say they must close maternity services to reduce expenses and keep the hospital operating.
Tony Nuñez, board president of the Pajaro Valley Health Care District, wrote in an op-ed this week that the hospital faces an operating deficit of approximately $85,000 per day. Supplemental government payments at times help, but he said they arrive sporadically and can’t be relied on. He wrote no decisions have been made, but “with a service line losing approximately $10 million annually, a hospital operating with very limited cash, and millions more in expected funding shortfalls ahead, these conversations must occur.”
The hospital could close by April 2027 if its financial situation does not improve, according to hospital leaders.
The Oct. 22 meeting will give residents an opportunity to learn more about the hospital’s situation and share their concerns before decisions are made.
Questions or comments? Email [email protected]. Santa Cruz Local is supported by members, major donors, sponsors and grants for the general support of our newsroom. Our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support. Learn more about Santa Cruz Local and how we are funded.
Erandi García reports on the Latino community, covering issues and decisions that shape life in the Pajaro Valley and across Santa Cruz County. "My goal is to provide accurate, accessible journalism that helps the migrant residents stay informed and engaged in their communities. I live in the Pajaro Valley and enjoy spending time with my family, exploring local events and staying connected with the community I have called home for most of my life."
Before joining Santa Cruz Local, Erandi spent more than a decade as a television journalist, reporting and anchoring for Spanish-language news. Her reporting focused on public safety, local government, immigration, crime, education and agriculture. Most recently, she served as Director of Community Outreach and Education at Hospice Giving Foundation, where she led bilingual outreach initiatives and worked with community partners throughout Monterey and Santa Cruz counties.
