To the editor:

As a resident of Belhaven, I am writing to express my concern for America’s rural hospitals, especially the recent closing of Pungo District Hospital. This is important to residents of Washington because they could easily find themselves in a similar situation in the future. We need support from the community and government to reverse this situation. As a Critical Access Hospital, Pungo District has served the 20,000 residents of Beaufort and Hyde counties since the 1940s. Experts from Campbell University and Duke University have agreed the town’s plan for operating the hospital will result in profitability in 3 years. In the past year, more rural hospitals have been forced to close than in the previous 15 years. This is a crisis that has come to our doorstep. The hospital will not reopen without government intervention.

We are asking neighboring communities to learn about the issue at www.storyofamerica.org and www.saveourhospital.org. Let your readers and city officials know of your commitment to maintaining a healthy community in Washington.

 

Jean G. Lamkin