Groups vie to take over Peninsula Hospital

Hurricane Irene may have forced the evacuation of the Rockaways, but it couldn’t dampen the spirits of those fighting to save Peninsula Hospital, as they are “very close to closing a deal.”
Last week, hospital board member Joe Mure said that there were three separate “serious” groups interested in taking over the flat lining facility.
Now, he said, one is “very close” and has been “in constant negotiations.”
Following the mandatory evacuation and closure of the facility due to the storm, Mure said, “Peninsula is almost back to normal.”
“The emergency room is operational, they are taking walk-ins, the clinics are functional and ER patients are being moved upstairs,” he said. “The only thing is that, as of yesterday afternoon [Monday, August 29] there was no ambulance service, but that might have changed.”
Just days before, on August 24, St. John’s Episcopal Hospital issued a press release saying it had received permission from the State of New York to begin expansion of its emergency room, outpatient care, surgery, intensive care and in-patient facilities, to be completed in the coming weeks and months.
The plans include adding 17 additional Emergency Department bays, 51 medical/surgical beds, 10 critical care beds and one additional pediatrics bed, which will add 62 beds, bringing the total bed count to 319 beds.
Additionally, St. John’s has already begun to hire and orient former members of Peninsula’s staff to meet anticipated increased patient volume. The clinic at St. John’s is also prepared to see patients from the Peninsula clinic.
St. John’s has launched a special website, www.careforrockawayfivetowns, to provide more information for patients and staff.
Despite St. John’s preparations, Mure said, “We are very hopeful we are going to have something [to save Peninsula].”
Stay with The Courier to see if Peninsula keeps its doors open.