By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Thousands gathered in Niagara Square for a "Save Children's Hospital" Rally Saturday in downtown Buffalo. Families, doctors and hospital workers filled Niagara Square with signs, banners and flags calling on Kaleida to keep Children's as a free-standing facility.
The rally, organized by the Women and Children First Coalition, featured sports celebrities, local and state politicians, top union leaders and Children's physicians as speakers.
Dr. Philip Glick, Surgeon-in-Chief at Children's, told the crowd Kaleida's financial problems are due to mis-management.
"Their solution to the problem now is to accept the recommendations of a flawed and secretive report," Glick said. "Essentially, the Hunter report recommends balancing Kaleida's budget on the backs of Children's Hospital, their patients and their families. This is wrong. We need to save Children's Hospital."
Saturday, Kaleida released a statement in response to the rally. Kaleida says "no decision has been made" about the Bryant facility. Kalieda says it is still in the process of collaborating with doctors on a plan that is "best for all."
Deputy State Assembly Speaker Arthur Eve and other lawmakers are asking Kaleida to delay a March 11th decision. Eve also says the state Legislature's Western New York delegation is trying to arrange a meeting with Kaleida's board.
"We're asking for a meeting with Kaleida's board of directors so they can know we are united to keep Children's Hospital where it is," Eve said.
Eve tells WBFO News he hopes the meeting with the board will take place within the next two weeks.