NEWPORT, R.I. — At a public meeting on Monday night, a coalition of elected officials, health‑care leaders and community advocates presented a comprehensive strategy to preserve the Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center at Newport Hospital. The 53‑page report, titled “Protecting the Future of Maternity Care in Newport County,” offers five concrete recommendations aimed at increasing visibility, boosting birth volume and establishing long‑term financing.
Key recommendations
The report calls for the creation of a community council to guide the center’s operations, the establishment of a residency program to train new obstetric providers, and the development of a targeted marketing plan to raise awareness among expectant families. Additional suggestions include expanding partnerships with local prenatal educators and exploring innovative revenue streams to reduce reliance on a single funding source.
Funding landscape
Brown University Health, which operates Newport Hospital, announced that the birthing center will remain open only if it secures $4.9 million in annual funding. The mix is expected to come from state appropriations, philanthropic contributions and increased patient revenue. Governor Dan McKee has already allocated $1.6 million in the state budget to address the shortfall, a move Rep. Lauren Carson described as “taxpayer money that was in the budget that went toward the shortfall.”
Carson emphasized that while recent legislative wins provided a crucial bridge, the funding challenge is not yet resolved. “We had a few wins in the legislature and the money was found to keep it open, but it’s not over,” she said, noting that the next legislative session in January will be a critical opportunity to secure additional resources.
Community impact
The birthing center is Aquidneck Island’s sole labor and delivery facility, handling more than 400 births each year. Advocates argue that closing the center would force families to travel farther for care, placing additional strain on municipal services that would need to transport women to hospitals outside the island.
“What will happen is we’ll be relying on city services to drive women up to other hospitals,” Carson warned, adding that such a shift could lead to “a number of adverse maternal outcomes,” according to Michael Fine, president of Primary Care for All Americans.
Local residents echoed the need for greater awareness. Ashley Fitzsimmons, a Portsmouth resident, said she was surprised to learn the center existed only ten minutes from her home, noting that she had previously assumed she needed to travel to Women & Infants for maternity care.
Next steps
Stakeholders plan to launch a public awareness campaign within weeks, highlighting the center’s services and encouraging expectant families to consider it for their deliveries. Tyler Grimes, who gave birth at the center two years ago, stressed the importance of “making sure there’s more births at the birthing center and that the advertising is more prominent.”
The community council, if formed, will meet regularly to monitor progress, adjust the marketing strategy and explore additional funding avenues, including private donations and grant opportunities. The report’s authors hope that a coordinated effort will not only keep the birthing center open but also strengthen its role as a cornerstone of family health on Aquidneck Island.
Looking ahead
With the state budget already providing a portion of the needed funds, local leaders are optimistic that a combination of legislative action, private philanthropy and increased patient volume will secure the center’s future. The upcoming legislative session in January will be a pivotal moment for Newport’s maternity care, and officials are urging residents to stay engaged and support the proposed initiatives.
Original reporting: NBC 10 WJAR (Sinclair) – local — read the source article.
