NEWBURGH – St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital has put plans to shutter
the Cornwall campus emergency room on hold.
A statement from the hospital said it “has always taken the voices
of our local leadership and community seriously and in particular Senator
Larkin, whose leadership we have relied upon for many years.”
The administration said it will be “taking a pause in our application
for closure and will continue to operate the emergency department and
associated services until questions about the Cornwall Campus Emergency
Department transition and access to care are addressed with our local
leaders and elected officials, including Congressman Maloney, Senator
Larkin and Assemblyman Skoufis.” The hospital must receive state
Health Department approval for a facility change such as this.
Hospital leadership said SLCH “remains dedicated to maintaining
our community’s access to the highest quality health care in the
most appropriate patient setting. Good communication is an important part
of that process. We thank our community for their input and are confident
that together, we will move forward successfully.”
Larkin applauded the hospital’s announcement saying he is pleased
that it has decided to pause its application to close the Cornwall ER.
“I will continue to work to ensure my constituents are provided
with appropriate, comprehensive care.”
Skoufis, meanwhile, said he is “grateful” that the hospital’s
management “has chosen to listen to the concerns I raised alongside
Congressman Maloney, Senator Larkin, and community leaders.”
Skoufis said this now presents an opportunity “to have a full, honest
discussion regarding the future of the Cornwall emergency room and, more
broadly, the Cornwall campus, before critical decisions are made that
impact the lives of residents.”
