Senator George Onorato Recently Sent The Following Letter To The State Health Department Regarding The Fate Of St. John's Hospital And Mary Immaculate Hospital In Queens:

January 23, 2009

Honorable Richard F. Daines, MD
Commissioner
New York State Department
Of Health
Corning Tower, Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY  12237

Dear Commissioner Daines:

 As you are aware, St. John’s Hospital in Elmhurst, Queens and Mary Immaculate Hospital in Jamaica, Queens, are both in dire financial straits and in great need of assistance to continue serving patients in the borough.  Their potential closures, especially coming on the heels of the shutdown of Parkway Hospital in Forest Hills, represent extremely bad news for Queens residents who are already suffering from a lack of access to medical facilities and who would be very negatively affected by the loss of two more hospitals.

 I realize that these are severely difficult economic times in New York and across the nation, but I would ask that you do everything in your power to ensure that the people of Queens do not lose their access to these hospitals and to the vital medical care that they provide. 

 I would greatly appreciate learning of any actions the State Health Department might be able to take in this regard.  I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience regarding these issues of great mutual concern, and to continuing to work with you on behalf of the health and welfare of the people of New York State. 

      Sincerely, 

      George Onorato
      State Senator, 12th District