Prime Healthcare nurses protest cuts to OB services at 3 Chicago area hospitals

Nurses will rally on Wednesday at one of three Chicago area hospitals that are cutting maternal care services this week.

Beginning on Thursday, Prime Healthcare says obstetric services will end at St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, Resurrection Medical Center in Chicago, and Mercy Medical Center in Aurora.

The company plans to centralize OB care at two other hospitals — St. Mary of Nazareth in Ukrainian Village and Olympia Fields Hospital in south suburban Olympia Fields.  

The Illinois Nurses Association said registered nurses at St. Joseph will hold a rally at noon on Wednesday to condemn the closure of the obstetrics and special care nursery departments.

The nurses said the closures threaten the health of mothers and babies.

The union is urging Prime to come to the bargaining table to negotiate with the nurses on a new contract. Their current contract with Prime expires in January.