LOCKPORT, N.Y. (WKBW) — Stating it can "no longer sustain services at this location," Eastern Niagara Hospital will close its Newfane campus in the coming weeks.
The hospital's board announced its final plan to "implement a sustainable service model" today, as it works to close a $10 million deficit.
Troy Barnes lives across the street from the hospital, and has watched it scale back services over the years.
"A community hospital built up by local doctors, and it's a shame what happened to it," he said.
The Board of Directors will close the Newfane hospital campus, once known as Newfane Inter-Community Memorial Hospital, in October. The property will then be put up for sale. The campus is currently 20% occupied, after ENH announced in May it was shutting down dialysis, radiology and maternity programs there.
The closure means outpatient physical therapy and laboratory services will also end in Newfane. The Reflections Chemical Dependency Program will return to the Lockport location.
Lockport's hospital will also be affected by the new "sustainable service model." Outpatient physical therapy services will close, and inpatient beds and nursing units will be consolidated and streamlined.
The ENH board also expects to reduce its personnel by 50 full-time employees-- in addition to 50 unfilled or vacant positions that will also not be filled.
Additional changes include the relocation of patient accounting/billing to the Lockport hospital, and cuts to management.
