TRENTON – Senator Angela V. McKnight released the following statement after Hudson Regional Health announced that Heights University Hospital, formerly Christ Hospital, will suspend non-essential services due to budgetary constraints beginning October 26:

“The recent announcement by Hudson Regional Health of operational cutbacks and potential layoffs at Heights University Hospital is deeply concerning and threatens the healthcare access our neighborhood relies on.

“Heights University Hospital provides vital charity care to our most vulnerable residents — those who have nowhere else to turn in their time of need and already face significant health inequities and barriers to care. Any reduction in services will only compound these struggles, placing even greater strain on our local healthcare system and possibly leaving Jersey City Medical Center as the sole provider for our city. Everyone will feel the ripple effects: longer wait and travel times, reduced access to preventive care, and poorer health outcomes.

“Our community cannot afford to lose this critical resource. Everyone must come together to find a sustainable solution that keeps Heights University Hospital fully operational and able to serve those who need it most.”