Cong. Underwood says SMP Health closure is a tragedy for residents

14th District Cong. Lauren Underwood says the closure of St. Margaret’s Health Peru is a tragedy for the communities of LaSalle, Peru, and Oglesby. And as one of the only providers of obstetric services in the area, she says it’s a disaster for women and families because they might be isolated from maternal health care they need and deserve. In a statement made from her Twitter account, Underwood says rural hospitals are essential to the health and long-term stability of communities. She also says constituents have told her about the devastating effects of the closure, including ambulances losing time to take people to a hospital and some nearby hospitals that could be overwhelmed with additional demand. Today is the day that the hospital is temporarily closing, Staff shortages and a cyber attack were some of the reasons the hospital said they were closing.