MONTICELLO – The Sullivan County Legislature is concerned with the future of the Garnet Health Medical Center – Catskills facility, claiming that the critical care unit and a medical-surgical unit have been shut down. A hospital spokewoman disputed that claim saying no services have been cut at the Harris-based campus.
“We cannot reduce our services. We have to stop the bleed at some point and say, ‘what is your vision, Garnet, for our facility here’,” Legislator Nadia Rajsz told her colleagues in the Public Safety Committee on Thursday.
Legislators said they want to know what the administration’s plans are for the Catskill campus.
Albee Bockman, a Sullivan County coroner and president of Mobile Medic ambulance service, said patients are being transported from Sullivan to Garnet Medical in the Town of Wallkill to boost their patient count and expand the emergency department there.
“My concern is the closure of this hospital,” Rajsz said, referring the Garnet Catskill. “Is that their end goal because that is not my end goal.” The spokeswoman said Garnet has no plans to close the Harris facility.
Legislators want to sit down with hospital officials to learn firsthand what the plans are for Garnet Catskill.
