OBSERVER Staff Report

IRVING — A press conference is scheduled to take place later this morning to address the closing of Lakeshore Hospital.

Coined “Keep Care Alive,” the press conference will address the loss of jobs, a timeline and the devastating impact of the TLC Lakeshore closure, which is set to take place on Jan. 1. The event is being led by the Service Employees International Union 1199 and will be attended by state Sen. George Borrello, Assemblyman Andrew Goodell and a number of other community members.

One of the key messages will be about maintaining essential health-care services and jobs at the facility. “We believe geographic distance limitations and life-preserving specialty services require a thoughtful and extended closure process that includes all parties,” the flier announcing the press conference states.

On Dec. 3, the Brooks-TLC Hospital System announced the shutdown of the facility in the new year. Since then, the Hanover Town Board and Gowanda Village Board has heard concerns from elected officials and employees.

“Two weeks ago, over 160 healthcare workers represented by 1199SEIU, United Healthcare Workers East, at TLC Lakeshore Hospital were told that the facility would close at the end of the month and that their jobs and the critical health services they provide would be lost,” noted Allison Krause, spokeswoman for the union. “This was a devastating and unexpected blow for dedicated caregivers to receive right before the holidays. Since then, there have been more questions than answers about the closure and the impact it will have on the community.”

Brooks-TLC has been hemorrhaging cash for the last decade. This year alone, both institutions are on track to run a more than $20 million deficit, including more than $7 million at Irving.

About 200 positions will be impacted by the closing, which was not properly reported to the state Labor Department for its Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification — known as the federal WARN Act.

According to the state Labor Department, the hospital filed the notice on Dec. 5. It was not posted to the state web site until Wednesday of last week.