Henderson Hospital in Southern Nevada will close its maternity and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the end of September due to a significant decline in birth rates in the region.
The hospital plans to convert the space into 32 medical-surgical rooms to address demand, as its existing emergency room and medical-surgical admissions frequently operate at capacity.
This closure is expected to impact over 100 staff members, who will have the option to seek positions within the hospital or at other facilities within the Valley Health System. Current patients will continue to receive care until the end of September, after which they will be transferred to other Valley Health System hospitals. For pregnancy-related emergencies, the emergency room will assess and either treat patients on-site or transfer them to another facility.
Hospital officials stated that the decision was influenced by several factors, including the declining birth rates in Southern Nevada, retirements among obstetricians, the closure of some obstetrics offices, and a reduction in NICU admissions. Data from the Southern Nevada Health District indicates that the number of births in Clark County, where Henderson Hospital is located, has decreased by nearly 3,000 since 2018. This decline contrasts with population growth in the county, which the U.S. Census Bureau identifies as the fastest-growing in Nevada.
Community Concerns and Wider Context
A petition initiated by Henderson Hospital nurse Kim Trower, titled 'Women and Babies are not Budget cuts,' garnered over 4,000 signatures. Trower expressed concerns that eliminating these services would reduce regional healthcare capacity, strain neighboring hospitals, and create barriers to care for vulnerable patients. Supporters of the petition highlighted the critical nature of these services, with one anonymous comment detailing life-saving emergency obstetric care received at the hospital.
Dr. Marc J. Kahn, a professor of medicine at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine, noted a broader shortage of physicians in the community, including sub-specialists like neonatologists. The closure also occurs within a context of limited maternal care access in Nevada, where Becker's Hospital Review reported that over 70% of the state's rural hospitals lack labor and delivery services. The median drive time for such care in these areas is 56 minutes. Following the closure, St. Rose Dominican Hospital, located 10 miles west, will be the only other NICU in the vicinity, adding an estimated 16-18 minutes to travel time.
