Hospital addition is sorely needed

Re “Health center in fight over its growth,” Nov. 5

So the communities from Sylmar to Granada Hills want a more detailed study on the effect of Providence Holy Cross Medical Center’s proposed expansion? How about a detailed study on the effects to the community if the hospital is no longer there?

Memo to the communities: The proposal is to expand a hospital, not a toxic waste dump.

Ron Yukelson

San Luis Obispo

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The expansion at Providence Holy Cross needed to happen at least two years ago and is now desperately needed.

This highly recognized hospital has provided a near-comprehensive list of essential services to the residents of the northern San Fernando Valley for years, but it has been overburdened by recent hospital closures.

The planned expansion is required to keep up with current patient needs, to unload an excessively busy emergency department and to prevent the current diversion of ambulances of those in greatest need to more distant and less-equipped hospitals. But Barbara Lewis, a vice president with United Healthcare Workers West in Los Angeles, and Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon feel that they need to delay the expansion to study traffic and parking issues.

When did finding parking places take precedence over finding hospital beds?

Michael Nelson MD

Medical Director

Facey Medical Group

Mission Hills