Jameson Hospital in New Castle discontinues childbirth services Sept. 1

NEW CASTLE, PA. — Jameson Hospital will discontinue childbirth services at Jameson Hospital effective Sept. 1.

The hospital’s administration has actively recruited obstetricians throughout this year without success and has used temporary obstetrics physicians to provide continuous 24-hour coverage of services as a short-term solution to bridge the service until merger consummation.

“For more than nine months, our obstetrics program has been admirably maintained by only two obstetricians serving the needs of their patients as well as afterhours and emergent needs of our community,” said, in a statement, Doug Danko, president and chief executive officer, Jameson Health System. “The uncertainty of our future merger with UPMC has led a local independent obstetrician to make a difficult decision to move her practice to another hospital where the manpower and shared call obligations provide a better opportunity for her.

"Our efforts to recruit additional OB-GYN doctors into our community during these uncertain times have not been successful; and as a result, obstetrical delivery services can no longer be sustained.”