Health care workers picketed outside Delaware County Memorial Hospital Wednesday shouting “Save Our Hospital!” and state legislators met at Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast High School to discuss a “maternity desert” in the county, writes Kathleen E. Carey for the Daily Times.

Crozer Health closed Delaware County Memorial Hospital’s obstetrics unit where more than 1,800 babies were born last year.

That leaves just Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland and Riddle Hospital in Middletown for maternity services.

“What has happened to this hospital and ultimately to the patient community over the last few months feels like a nightmare that we can’t wake up from,” said DCMH Emergency Room Nurse and president of the Delaware County Nurses Association, Angela Neopolitano, speaking at the hearing.

The closure puts the most vulnerable residents with the fewest travel options in the most populated part of Delaware County without maternity services, she said.

The protests highlighted cuts made by Crozer Health and fears that DCMH would close.

State Rep. Mike Zabel (D-165) said he and Sen. John Kane (D-9) were drafting legislation that would ban for-profit entities from owning hospital systems in Pennsylvania.

Crozer Health is owned by the for-profit Prospect Medical Holdings.

Read more at the Daily Times about the ongoing county healthcare problems.