BY NICKI MAYO YNN BUFFALO
Ellicott Neighborhood Advisory Council’s David Collins says the Jesse Nash Health Care Center on William Street and the Dr. Matt Gajewski Human Services Center on Broadway offer invaluable services to Fillmore and Ellicott district residents.
“There’s a dental program for children. They come here and get their dental training and demonstrations and it’s good!” said David Collins. Soon the dental, mental and family planning services will leave the centers. Erie County Executive Chris Collins plans to transfer these services from the clinics by 2010.
“There’s just no reason for it. There’s no rhyme or reason to close down that facility to eliminate those services from so many people just at the mark of his pen, that’s not right,” David Collins added. He’s not alone. Several Erie County legislators agree with Collins’ crusade.
“I’ve received a stack of letters this thick [motions fingers to indicate 3 four inches] of residents who said ‘Please don’t close it!” Third District Legislator Barbara Miller-Williams told reporters Thursday.
Officials in the Erie County Executive’s office say they are not trying to get rid of the clinics, just trying to transfer some of the non-mandated programs and services. So they are teaming up with the Sheehan Medical Network on Michigan and Clinton, as well as a clinic in the Perry Housing Complex area.
“We need to transfer clinical programs. Non-mandated clinical programs for primary care, dental, podiatry and women’s health,” explained Erie County Executive Office Communications Director Grant Loomis.
“Why is this even happening? Is it a matter of a dollar? Well quite frankly we cannot operate Erie County like a business,” asked Legislator Miller-Williams.
Loomis says the cuts come at a time when Erie County is cutting back on services already offered by area independent health groups. For example, the county transferred the Women Infant and Children’s program over to Catholic Charities in September. But some country legislators say now is not the time to cut health care options.
CLICK HERE TO READ: 07/06/09: Catholic Charities Take Over WNY WIC https://www.nickimayonews.com/?p=492
“At a time when nurses are needed. At a time when health clinics are needed. We should be opening health clinics not closing them. This is a time when we’re at an epidemic here,” said Legislator Miller-Williams. “If we take away these two centers it will cost us more at the end of the day,” she added.
“No services will end in the community; the provider of those services will be different,” Loomis said.
Some Fillmore and Ellicott residents may need to take a bus to get acquainted with their new health care provider.
“Sheehan is off the beaten track, and I don’t know if they are equipped to do the same services that these citizens have been provided for the last couple of years,” stated David Collins.
