Press Advisory For Immediate Release
June 26, 2003
Contact: Kay Eisenhower, 510/658-1147

Staff, Patients Mourn Closing of Central and Fairmont Health Clinics on Last Day

Where
Central Health Center
470 27th Street, Oakland
When
Friday, June 27, Noon to 1 P.M.

Staff and patients of Central Health Clinic will gather at noon Friday, to mourn the closure of the Oakland clinic on its last day of operation. The closure of Central marks an end to 30 years of providing quality health services to Alameda County residents.

Clinic staff warns this could be just the first in a series of closures and health service reductions as a result of the financial crisis facing public hospital systems in California and across the country.

Alameda County Medical Center operates both the Central and Fairmont clinics, which are slated for closure on June 30. The closures will displace 25,000 patients served by the two clinics. The Medical Center says it will close its remaining clinics in Oakland, Hayward, and Newark, and reduce services at Highland Hospital in Oakland if it doesn't receive some financial relief from the state and county.

"The closure represents a huge and irrevocable loss to this community," says Dr. Linda Spangler, a family practitioner at Central. "The health care safety net is already inadequate. Without these clinics, thousands of residents with heart disease, diabetes and other chronic illnesses won't have the ongoing care they need. They'll end up in Highland's emergency room, in Summit's emergency room, with more severe and costly health problems."

"If the Medical Center doesn't receive an infusion of cash, the remaining clinics in Oakland, Hayward, and Newark will close," says Kay Eisenhower, a retired county employee and spokesperson for Vote Health. "Even the Highland trauma center is at risk of closure."

Longtime clinic patients will join physicians and other care providers to witness the clinic's final day of operation. Spanish-speaking patients and staff will be available for interview.

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