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Cook County Backs Off from Cuts at Hospitals
Produced by Gabriel Spitzer on Thursday, October 29, 2009
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Cook County health officials are backing away from a plan to cut services at two public hospitals.
The board overseeing Cook County's health system released a draft strategic plan earlier this month. It suggested that the county could eliminate in-patient services at Provident and Oak Forest Hospitals.
The idea has drawn fire from unions, elected officials and residents like Pamela Hatchett. She's a former cancer patient, and she spoke last night at a town hall meeting on the strategic plan.
HATCHETT: Why make sick, handicapped, broke-down, and poor residents like myself travel all the way from the South Side, and south suburbs all the way to Stroger Hospital?
At the same meeting, health system CEO William Foley said the outcry has convinced him to take another look at the cuts. He said he wants to slow down and gather more input from the community.
The move would not affect the 335 layoffs put into motion last week. Those are part of the budget process, Foley said, and aren't related to the strategic plan.
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