Hundreds Rally To Save Hospitals From Chopping Block
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A rally was held in Queens Saturday to try to save two hospitals that are in danger of closing due to a lack of funds.
Mary Immaculate Hospital in Jamaica and St John's Queens Hospital in Elmhurst are both on the chopping block.
Hundreds of concerned community members, nurses, activists and elected officials gathered at Mary Immaculate to protest the cuts.
"It would be a terrible fate for the people of Queens who need this hospital. If they get sick, an accident, they must go someplace and this was the closest to Queens where they have to be," said Sister Martha Arnold, a hospital volunteer.
"If we are not here, they would have to go to other hospitals that would be totally full, and wait for hours and hours to get the care they need," said Joan Baillargeom, a social worker at Mary Immaculate Hospital.
Officials say the fate of the hospitals will be decided within the next eight weeks.