TUESDAY, DEC. 3 at 3 PM: Midwives at Jacobi and North Central Bronx Hold Speak-out on Safe Staffing and Maternal Health in the Bronx
**MEDIA ADVISORY FOR TUESDAY, DEC. 3 AT 3 PM**
Contact: Andrea Penman-Lomeli | press@nysna.org | 347-559-3169
Kristi Barnes | press@nysna.org | 646-853-4489
MIDWIVES AT JACOBI AND NORTH CENTRAL BRONX HOLD SPEAK-OUT ON SAFE STAFFING AND MATERNAL HEALTH IN THE BRONX
Hear from midwives, community members, and elected leaders on their fight for better health outcomes for Bronx families.
Bronx, N.Y.– On Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 3 p.m., midwives at NYC Health+Hospitals/Jacobi Medical Center and North Central Bronx Hospital, will hold a speak-out to sound the alarm on the staffing crisis at Jacobi and North Central Bronx. Midwives are essential to providing safe maternal and birthing care in the Bronx, which has some of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in New York state.
The public hospital midwives who work at Jacobi and North Central Bronx hospitals handle nearly all vaginal births at their facilities and assist with C-sections. However, they currently struggle with understaffing and the pressure to care for too many patients in too short a time. Amidst this maternal and infant mortality crisis, Bronx midwives are fighting for a fair union contract that prioritizes hiring and retaining enough qualified midwives to ensure underserved Bronx families get the care they deserve.
WHO: NYSNA midwives, community members, and elected officials, including Assembly Member Michael Benedetto
WHAT: Speak-out about safe staffing and maternal health in the Bronx
WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 at 3 p.m.
WHERE: In front of Jacobi Medical Center
1400 Pelham Parkway S, Bronx, NY 10461
**Photos and video available on request**
New York City has claimed that maternal health is a top priority—this requires serious action. If the city is going to address this crisis, there needs to be an investment in midwifery care at Jacobi and North Central Bronx. Both hospitals are part of the city’s public hospital system and provide essential safety net care to Bronx communities.
Midwives are demanding pay parity with neighboring hospitals in order to attract enough qualified caregivers, a plan to retain current midwives, and additional support to relieve overburdened staff. Midwives recently wrote an opinion editorial explaining their roles and were interviewed to speak about their contract fight. NYSNA midwives are bargaining for a fair contract and have made safe staffing and retention a priority.
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The New York State Nurses Association represents more than 42,000 members in New York State. We are New York’s largest union and professional association for registered nurses. NYSNA is an affiliate of National Nurses United, AFL-CIO, the country's largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses, with more than 225,000 members nationwide.