The Santa Clarita Valley is expected to lose a surgical facility before the end of the year, with UCLA Health officials Thursday confirming a report they were closing “two small community ambulatory surgery centers,” one in Santa Clarita and another in Thousand Oaks.
A nurses’ union official confirmed a morning meeting Thursday with the more than two dozen members of UCLA Health staff over the upcoming closure.
A source familiar with the situation said Ron Perez, executive leader of perioperative services for the UCLA Health system, portrayed the news as a cost-cutting measure to the employees in the medical center at 25775 McBean Parkway. The person also said employees were told that UCLA Health would make every effort to find new positions for them.
The date given for the closure was Dec. 5.
“As part of a restructuring to enhance efficiency, UCLA Health has made the difficult decision to wind down operations at two small community ambulatory surgery centers in Santa Clarita and Thousand Oaks,” according to an email Thursday from Phil Hampton, a spokesman for UCLA Health. “After Dec. 5, patients receiving care at these ambulatory surgery sites will have the opportunity to receive care at nearby locations, including in West Hills near UCLA West Valley Medical Center. The 26 nurses, surgical technicians and support staff impacted by the restructuring have been encouraged to apply for vacant positions at other UCLA Health sites.”
A representative for the nurses’ union, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the center’s staff met with a union representative at 11 a.m. Thursday to discuss the situation.
There was no official comment available from the union as of the publication of this story.
A source, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal, said the staff received an email around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, which is usually around the time the staff begin to leave for the day, informing them of an all-hands-on-deck meeting the following morning, when Perez delivered the news.
