Belfast council unanimously urges MaineHealth to reconsider proposed closure of WCGH labor and delivery unit

Belfast, Maine — The Belfast City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to send a letter to the MaineHealth Board of Directors urging the health system to reconsider plans that could end labor-and-delivery services at Waldo County General Hospital (WCGH).

Councilor Neil Harkness read the letter on behalf of the mayor and council, saying the council ‘‘urge[s] you to very carefully consider your decision on possible closure of the labor and delivery unit at Waldo County General Hospital.’’ The motion to approve and send the letter passed 5–0.

Why it matters: Residents and clinicians told the council closing the unit would worsen access to time-sensitive obstetric care in a rural area, impose long drives for families and harm the city’s ability to attract and retain young families — concerns the council said justified direct engagement with MaineHealth.

Public testimony: Dozens of residents and local health professionals addressed the council during the open-comment period. Michael Tuohy, a former council member and longtime hospital employee, urged the council to ‘‘adopt a resolution affirming its support of Waldo County General Hospital’’ and to require regular reporting from MaineHealth on commitments made during the hospital’s consolidation.

Lindsay Piper, a women’s-health nurse practitioner, said closing local obstetric services would stress emergency departments and harm outcomes for low-income patients who already face transportation barriers. ‘‘Emergency departments are ill-equipped to manage this specialty care,’’ Piper said.

Other residents described personal experiences. Finn Wilder, a family nurse practitioner who recently lost a child, said, ‘‘When Ellis had to be life flighted out to Bangor, everyone was there for me. This is the kind of place that we live where people take care of each other.’’ Katie Cronin, a Belfast resident, said the birthing center is ‘‘an artery of our community’’ and urged the council to act.

Council discussion and next steps: Councilors framed the vote as a first step. Councilor Mary Mortier moved to approve the letter; councilors agreed to add the city’s state representatives as cc recipients. Councilors thanked residents for attending a planned public forum at the Shrine Club on Aug. 7 and said they will pursue additional avenues of engagement with MaineHealth, including requests for reporting and meetings with higher-level officials.

What the letter asks: As read to the council, the letter requests that MaineHealth consider the community impacts of reduced services, maintain WCGH as a ‘‘full-service’’ medical center, and respond ‘‘in a respectful and transparent manner’’ to community concerns. It cites reported reductions in hospice and cardiology services and warns that loss of obstetrical care risks further declines in patient volume and services.

Votes and formal action: The council’s motion to approve and send the letter passed 5–0. The council did not record individual roll-call votes in the public transcript; the recorded outcome was unanimous approval.

What comes next: Councilors said they will present the letter to MaineHealth, hold at least one public meeting (Shrine Club, Aug. 7) to collect constituent input for further outreach, and explore whether any legal or contractual obligations exist tied to the hospital’s prior sale or consolidation.

Reporting note: The council’s action is a political and advocacy step — not a regulatory order — and does not itself change hospital operations. Residents and councilors asked for MaineHealth to provide written reporting on any commitments made during the consolidation that relate to maintaining services at WCGH.