RNs joined by Democratic nominee for DC mayor, partner organizations, and concerned community members

Union registered nurses at MedStar Washington Hospital Center (MWHC) in Washington, D.C. will hold a community forum on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, to discuss the closure of postpartum unit 5F at Washington Hospital Center, the devastating impact of Medicaid cuts in DC, and building a health care system that works for us all. Members of National Nurses United and community partners, as well as DC Councilmember and Democratic nominee for DC mayor Janeese Lewis George, will speak. 

By closing the 5F unit on July 26, 2026, MedStar eliminated more than one-third of all postpartum beds at Washington Hospital Center, DC’s busiest hospital for births. Since the closure was announced, nurses, community members, and local leaders have expressed grave concerns about patient care, equity, and access. “At a time when DC faces a maternal health crisis, particularly for Black women and families experiencing the greatest health disparities, we should be expanding, not reducing, maternal health capacity. Nearly all of the DC residents who die during pregnancy or childbirth are Black. Reducing postpartum treatment capacity sends the wrong message at the wrong time,” DC Councilmember and Democratic mayoral nominee Janeese Lewis George explained. 

Since the beds were closed, nurses have reported troubling conditions inside the hospital. “When labor and delivery is over capacity, we can go ‘on diversion,’ which means that we recommend health care providers tell their patients to seek care elsewhere because of our shortage of resources. We have been on diversion at least 14 times since the postpartum unit closed less than six weeks ago, even though this option is supposed to be a rare last resort,” said Gianna Chacon, RN in labor and delivery. Patients go to the postpartum unit after giving birth, so if there are no postpartum beds available, patients must stay and occupy a labor and delivery bed — leaving no room for new, incoming patients in labor.

Who: Registered nurses at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and D.C. community leaders
What: Community forum on the future of health care in DC
When: Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026 from 5-7 p.m.
Where: The People’s Church, 4704 13th St NW, Washington, DC 20011

“Postpartum nurses are being pressured to get moms out as soon as possible to make room. One of the most important things we do is educate. We are doing all we can, but when the process is rushed, patients may be leaving with lingering questions or concerns. They are also more likely to return later with complications. Our patients deserve better, and we call on MedStar to reverse the cuts,” said Averie Foster, an RN in postpartum. 

Forum panelists will discuss not only the impact of cuts to maternal health care, but also the broader landscape of health care cuts and efforts to fight back in DC. “I am deeply troubled by the layoff of over 60 staff members at Unity Health Care this August. It is imperative that our community come together and make clear that DC residents deserve more care, not more cuts,” said Dr. Kate Sugarman, physician member of the Union of American Physicians and Dentists. “And we demand that Unity and all health care institutions in the city behave with full transparency.”

NNOC/NNU represents more than 2,200 registered nurses at Washington Hospital Center.

National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States with more than 225,000 members nationwide. NNU affiliates include California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, DC Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and New York State Nurses Association.