DUNKIRK — A crisis regarding staffing due to a state mandate over vaccinations for health-care workers has led Brooks-TLC Hospital System to temporarily reduce labor and delivery services starting on Monday.

In a news release issued Friday afternoon, the hospital said the contingency plan was developed in consultation with the New York State Department of Health and in coordination with Brooks-TLC’s providers and regional partners that support its obstetrics and gynecological services.

The contingency plan calls for:

¯ The remaining obstetrics staff to complement emergency services staff for emergent situations.

¯ On-call obstetrics providers and pediatricians to continue to be available for consultation and to support any OB patient.

¯ Mothers and newborns will be transferred to John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital or the facility of their choice for the post-partum recovery period.

¯ Patients nearing full-term should be in discussion with their provider to update and transition their birth plan to another facility.

“We want to assure our patients that should they arrive at Brooks-TLC in active labor and an imminent delivery, they will deliver here with their OB provider,” said Mary LaRowe, president and chief executive officer of Brooks-TLC. “We believe this plan best serves our obstetric patients who are approaching their due-dates. It continues our mission of providing quality and compassionate healthcare and allows essential lead-time for them to have an important discussion with their providers.”

Brooks-TLC is one of two county hospital that handles births. The other is UPMC Chautauqua in Jamestown. There, staff indicated the maternity department also was facing a pinch with staffing forced by the mandate.

The John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital of Buffalo is the regional center for comprehensive and state-of-the-art pediatric trauma, surgical and medical care, including neonatal, perinatal and obstetrical services. Oishei Children’s specializes in making childbirth a special experience for all women. Its caring team of healthcare providers combines a state-of-the-art facility with family-centered care.

62 NEW CASES

The Chautauqua County Department of Health recorded 62 new cases of COVID-19, as well as a new virus related death, in information released Friday.

There have been 12,080 confirmed cases of the virus in the county to date along with 11,448 total recoveries and 184 deaths. There are currently 448 active cases, 37 people with the virus in the hospital and 1,242 in quarantine.

Regarding the vaccine, 64.1% of the county’s population over the age of 12 have received at least one dose while 58.3% have completed their series.

The health department stated that beginning next week it will “transition to weekly reporting of COVID-19 cases.”