Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital has temporarily closed its Labor and Delivery Unit.

The unit took its last patients on July 31. Patients are now receiving emergency care at the Gallup Indian Medical Center, regardless of their beneficiary status. For expectant mothers who are able to plan ahead, the closest hospital with an active labor and delivery unit is an hour away in Grants.

RMCHCS CEO Robert Whitaker told KOB there is no timeline for when Labor and Delivery will reopen, and attributed the closure to a shortage of nurses and physicians.

Shortage of nurses, doctors prompts closure of Gallup's RMCH Labor and Delivery unit. | Image Source: needpix.com

“We understand how important this service is to our community and are working to ensure that when we do have the pieces in place to have the program back up and running, that that is set up for the long term and we have a good program for families,” he told KOB.

Whitaker said the nurses who work in Labor and Delivery, have been reassigned to other departments in the hospital.