The grassroots group Save Bradford Hospital is inviting the community to come out and enjoy a family-friendly afternoon while celebrating those who are dedicated to saving lives.
The event, from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 18, at Callahan Park’s main pavilion, will include a live band, food and drinks, speakers, rigs from area fire departments, games, and activities for all ages. Live music will be provided by The Badgemen, a rock and pop cover band from Hornell, N.Y., with members from Bradford as well.
All hospital and EMS representatives in attendance will receive a free lunch from CJ Bar-B-Que.
The region is invited to show their support for the dedicated hospital employees and emergency responders.
Save Bradford Hospital organizers hope area residents take the opportunity to come out and thank front-line workers and volunteers, and help rally the community to push forward for the return of a true, full-service hospital that other towns enjoy.
The group is hoping for a substantial turnout to show support for the people who are working daily to protect our health and lives under difficult circumstances.
“When workers, patients, and neighbors stand together, we can do anything,” said organizers.
Hospital employees have remained an incredibly caring group committed to the community’s health care despite challenges caused by the transfer of essential medical services from Bradford to Olean, N.Y.
Along with issues involving the hospital, the situation has revealed a related issue involving emergency medical services in the Bradford area — shortages of EMTs, lack of volunteers, and an inadequate number of transport vehicles.
Other groups and organizations are encouraged to take advantage of the venue space to provide literature or other small services (blood pressure checks, for example). For more information about reserving space, contact the group on Facebook.
It has been more than a year since Kaleida Health and Upper Allegheny Health Systems closed most of the Bradford hospital with the goal of sending patients to Olean General Hospital and, further, to Kaleida Health Systems in Buffalo, N.Y.
The pandemic created issues surrounding emergency response and, now, staffing shortages continue to hamper the delivery of efficient, quality care.
