According to an email blast today from deBlasio, SUNY is violating the temporary restraining order issued by State Supreme Court Justice Baynes yesterday by continuing to divert ambulances and trying to move patients out of LICH.
De Blasio has demanded that SUNY comply with the terms of the TRO. Hospital staff, responding to SUNY's attempts to move their patients out of LICH, have called on the NYPD to enforce the TRO.
Any action that interrupts, hampers or curtails medical professionals from providing medical care, including emergency medical services, to current or prospective patients, violates the TRO, which prohibits SUNY from diverting ambulances, turning away patients or preventing doctors from treating patients.
DeBlasio, in a letter to FDNY Commissioner Salvatore Cassano, called on the FDNY to stop diverting ambulances from LICH, saying that FDNY paramedics wanted to bring patients to LICH and doctors and nurses there are still on the job.
DeBlasio's campaign to save LICH is probably doomed by the fact that, on Friday, the State Department of Health approved SUNY's application to close the hospital.
The only question remaining is whether LICH will be re-opened by another hospital operator or SUNY will sell the highly-desirable Cobble Hill real estate parcel to a developer -- as hospital staff, elected officials and local residents suspect SUNY of having planned to do all along.
Media contact: Wiley Norvell, 212-669-4813; 646-422-9614 .
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Update 7/19/13De Blasio obtained a Temporary Restraining Order from Brooklyn State Supreme Court Justice Judge Johnny Lee Baynes today blocking SUNY Downstate from closing Long Island College Hospital.
De Blasio personally served the TRO on LICH administrators this afternoon.
De Blasio and SUNY are due back in court on July 25
Saying that New York City has already lost a dozen hospitals under the Bloomberg administration, deBlasio vowed LICH would not be next. LICH and the neighborhood need continuity, said deBlasio, who called SUNY's efforts to close LICH "immoral", vowing not to stand down.
SUNY officials sent notice to LICH departments this morning that outpatient services would end today and that doctors would get pink slips next week. The TRO has temporarily blocked those actions.
But deBlasio's campaign to keep the hospital open will ultimately be doomed by the fact that, on Friday, the State Department of Health approved SUNY's application to close LICH.
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According to an email blast today from Public Advocate and mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio, SUNY Downstate has notified doctors, nurses, healthcare workers and patients at embattled Long Island College Hospital that it will close this Sunday.
SUNY has ordered hospital staff to move all the patients out by tomorrow.
At an emergency press conference today, de Blasio accused SUNY and Governor Andrew Cuomo of lying to the community about trying to save LICH while preparing to sell it to the highest bidder.
deBlasio vowed not to "let stand" SUNY's violation of a Brooklyn State Supreme Court order to keep the hospital open.
The same luxury condos going up over what was once St. Vincent’s Hospital will soon rise over LICH if SUNY can't be stopped, deBlasio said, vowing to continue the fight against the illegal closure.
More from the New York Times.
Brooklyn D.A. Charlie Hynes weighs into the controversy.
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