RNs and healthcare workers protest potential Santa Paula Hospital closure

Healthcare Workers Rally Against Proposed Changes at Santa Paula and Ventura County Hospitals

Healthcare professionals, including registered nurses at Santa Paula Hospital (SPH) and Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC) in Ventura, California, are organizing a demonstration during the Ventura County Board of Supervisors meeting on August 18. The protest is in response to proposed service changes that may lead to the closure of SPH. The demonstration aims to highlight the concerns of those represented by the California Nurses Association/Caregivers and Healthcare Employees Union (CNA/CHEU), part of the National Nurses United (NNU).

On August 7, healthcare workers from SPH and VCMC attended a town hall in Santa Paula, arranged by the county's healthcare agency, to discuss potential future plans for Santa Paula Hospital. The meeting, which was not widely advertised, revealed options that could alter the hospital's operations significantly. The Board of Supervisors is expected to deliberate on these proposals, including possible service changes and the impact of a closure, at the August 18 meeting starting at 10:30 AM.

Nurses and other healthcare staff are advocating for increased investment in nursing and public health services for the Santa Paula community and its adjacent rural areas.

“The life span expectancy of those living in the Santa Clara Valley is already an average of ten years less than the rest of the Ventura County’s residents,” stated Tiffany Leon, a registered nurse at SPH and VCMC residing in Santa Paula. “There is no good reason why my community does not deserve a fully functioning hospital with access to lifesaving care. Nurses will continue to advocate for our patients because it is our oath.”

Event Details

Who: Nurses and healthcare professionals at SPH and VCMC in the County of Ventura

What: Speak Out to Save Santa Paula Hospital from service changes and potential closure

When: Tuesday, Aug. 18, 10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

Where: The Ventura County Government Center – Hall of Administration – Board room (800 S. Victoria Ave. Ventura, CA 93009)

The proposed changes involve the removal of critical services including SPH’s emergency room, medical/surgical units, telemetry, inpatient observation, and operating room services. This could significantly impact rural populations in Ventura, Saticoy, Lake Piru, Santa Paula, Camarillo, Fillmore, Ojai Valley, and Santa Clara Valley by cutting off access to essential healthcare services.

Although VCMC and SPH operate under a single hospital license, the absence of emergency and basic hospital services at Santa Paula raises patient safety concerns. Residents might be required to travel approximately 15 miles to VCMC for care, potentially risking lives during transport.

Should the Board approve these changes, marginalized communities, particularly those involving immigrant and low-income groups working in local agriculture, might lose access to vital hospital services. The CNA union, representing a wide array of healthcare professionals, is committed to ensuring equitable healthcare access across the region.

CNA/CHEU represents over 900 healthcare professionals, including RNs, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, psych techs, and licensed vocational nurses across two hospitals, as well as ambulatory and specialty clinics, public health departments, and behavioral health clinics.

---
Read More USA Works News