'Bigger than just us': Health care workers fight to reopen labor & delivery unit at St. Francis Hospital

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Health care workers are bringing their fight to reopen the labor and delivery unit at Ascension St. Francis Hospital to Milwaukee City Hall.

Ascension closed the unit right before Christmas, citing a loss of providers and low birthing volumes.

Now, a Coalition to Save St. Francis is hoping to get the attention of city leaders.

"This is very much a community health issue. There are a lot of people whose health and well-being will be directly affected by this," Gavin Rice, a diagnostic medical sonographer at Ascension St. Francis Hospital, said.

Health care workers protesting outside of City Hall Wednesday night told CBS 58 they fear the community will suffer without labor and delivery resources on Milwaukee's south side.

"They kind of pulled the straw that broke the camel's back," Rice said.

An Ascension Wisconsin spokesperson told CBS 58 their statement hasn't changed.

"The clinical decision to consolidate labor and delivery services in Milwaukee was made following a thoughtful discernment process with our clinical and medical leaders to ensure we continue to provide high quality care to the community," an Ascension Wisconsin spokesperson said in a statement.

Ald. JoCasta Zamarripa is expected to bring the issue before the Public Safety and Health Committee on Thursday, Jan. 26.

Some of the health care workers at Wednesday's rally are expected to make statements during the committee meeting.