Mee Memorial Hospital makes cuts to labor and delivery department due to COVID-19

KING CITY, Calif. (KION) Mee Memorial Hospital has had to make some significant cuts to some of its services, including the labor and delivery department, due to the strain of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hospital officials say beds normally used in that department are now being used for more general hospital patients, forcing some expectant moms to deliver at Natividad when they would normally deliver at Mee Memorial.

"Not ideal, but it's one of those things we had to do to make sure the hospital survived the pandemic," Dr. Robert Valladares said.

Mee Memorial says that if they do not see federal funding designated specifically for hospitals in a stimulus package, they could see additional cuts.