George Borrello

ALBANY – With COVID-19 continuing to spread and Governor Andrew Cuomo targeting a potential need for additional hospital beds, Senator Borrello and his legislative colleagues, Assemblymen Joseph Giglio and Andy Goodell, made an official request to the Governor urging the state to utilize recently closed TLC/Lakeshore hospital as a temporary medical facility during the crisis.

“TLC/Lakeshore hospital is ideally suited to help the state meet the health care challenges COVID-19 has brought to our doorstep. Only recently closed, the hospital has an upgraded emergency department, expansive bed capacity, full handicapped accessibility and a strategic location bordering Erie, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties as well as the Seneca Nation. The hospital has the potential to be an essential and lifesaving resource as our state mobilizes to handle this unprecedented crisis,” Borrello said.

He also noted that, due to the strategic location of the hospital, several elected officials in the region support the idea including, Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz.

TLC/Lakeshore hospital in Irving was a part of the region’s health care network from 1965 until February 2. At the time of its closure, the facility featured a modern emergency department, a 20-bed inpatient behavioral health and 20-bed chemical dependency units. Earlier in its history, it had over 100 residential beds.

“Although it is my hope that the aggressive steps taken to date to combat this virus will eliminate the need for any additional hospital beds, it is important to be prepared. There are many skilled nurses and other health care professionals who can provide the exceptional and compassionate care that has always characterized Lakeshore hospital. The utilization of this facility could also provide needed financial support to Brooks hospital,” said Goodell.

Image from Sen. George Borrello’s Facebook Page

IRVING – A coalition of community leaders, healthcare workers, and elected officials gathered at a press conference and rally Friday in Irving to call on the Board of Directors and administration of TLC/Lakeshore hospital to cease its move towards closure.

The rally was coordinated Sen. George Borrello (R-Irving) and came a week of the state Office of Mental Health (OMH) Project Review Committee stated that the hospital must remain open.

The Committee cited the lack of a transition plan for meeting the region’s mental health and health care needs as the reason for their decision.

Despite the ruling and threats of fines and other regulatory enforcement, hospital administration says they will continue with the closure.