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Newport Leaders Unveil 53-Page Plan to Save Birthing Center, Warn Closure Would Strain City Services
Newport officials and advocates presented a 53-page report Monday night outlining five recommendations to keep the Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center open, including a community council, residency program, and marketing push, as they warned that losing Aquidneck Island's only labor and delivery unit would force families to rely on city services to reach distant hospitals.
NEWPORT, R.I. â Local leaders and health advocates gathered Monday night to present a detailed plan aimed at securing the long-term future of Newport Hospital's Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center, the only labor and delivery facility on Aquidneck Island.
The 53-page report, titled "Protecting the Future of Maternity Care in Newport County," was unveiled at a public meeting and comes after Brown University Health nearly shuttered the center in 2025. The health system ultimately agreed to keep it open, but only on the condition that $4.9 million in annual funding be secured through state appropriations, philanthropic contributions, and increased revenue.
"We had a few wins in the legislature and the money was found to keep it open, but it's not over," said state Rep. Lauren Carson, a Newport Democrat.
The report outlines five recommendations: establishing a community council to oversee the center's future, creating a residency program to attract and retain medical talent, developing a marketing plan to raise public awareness, increasing birth volume, and pursuing long-term funding solutions.
Advocates say a lack of visibility remains a major obstacle. Ashley Fitzsimmons of Portsmouth said she was stunned to discover the center existed just ten minutes from her home.
"I was shocked to learn that the birthing center in Newport, which is 10 minutes away from my house, existed," Fitzsimmons said. "There was truly no reason for me to go to Women & Infants."
Tyler Grimes of Newport, who gave birth at the center two years ago, echoed that call for greater outreach. "Making sure there's more births at the birthing center, that the advertising is more prominent," Grimes said.
The center handles more than 400 births annually. Following Brown University Health's closure threat, Gov. Dan McKee included $1.6 million for the facility in the state budget.
"That was taxpayer money that was in the budget that went toward the shortfall," Carson said.
But Carson and other local leaders cautioned that it remains unclear what Brown University Health would do if the remaining funding cannot be secured. They warned that closing the center would place additional demands on municipal services and could lead to worse health outcomes for families.
"What will happen is we'll be relying on city services to drive women up to other hospitals," Carson said.
Dr. Michael Fine, president of Primary Care for All Americans, said that scenario carries serious risks. "That has a number of adverse maternal outcomes," Fine said.
Carson said she hopes to pursue additional funding solutions when the legislature reconvenes in January. Monday's meeting made clear that while the center has survived its immediate crisis, the fight to keep it open is far from finished.