Metro South Medical Center in the south suburbs announced to the state Tuesday it plans to close its doors.
The medical center, located in Blue Island, said it will cease operations by the end of the year.
Several local leaders including Blue Island Mayor Domingo Vargas spoke out against the closure.
“We need a hospital in the south land given that hospitals have closed around us,” Vargas said.
State Representative Bob Rita, who serves on the hospital board, said he just learned of the news Thursday and was “blindsided…” Please click here for Sean Lewis’s story on WGN 9. A related story, Blue Island hospital operator says facility faces closure if no buyer is found, is in the Tribune/Daily Southtown.
June 13 update: Mayor Vargas announced in a press release that the City of Blue Island is hosting a stakeholder meeting following Metro South closure announcement.
Blue Island, Illinois, June 13, 2019: The City of Blue Island is organizing a meeting of local, regional, state, and federal stakeholders to address Metro South Medical Center’s plans to close their Blue Island facility December 31, 2019.
The Metro South Summit will provide elected officials, along with members of area first responder and medical communities, a collaborative opportunity to provide feedback about the effects of the impending closure, as well as participate in idea generation for the retention of local emergency, trauma, and surgical services so critical to Blue Island and neighboring communities. City Officials expect to announce the official date, time, and location of the Metro South Summit by the end of the week. Read more.