As public outcry over the impending closure of SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn mounts, health care workers and elected leaders are voicing their concerns about the potential impact it may have on pregnant people in Central Brooklyn.

“Those 30, 40 minutes could mean life or death,” said Lené Warren,” a doula who works with expectant mothers across the city.

She said she’s concerned about the impending closure of SUNY Downstate Medical Center in East Flatbush.

“If pregnant people, especially Black and brown moms, don’t have an additional hospital to get to, then what are they supposed to do?” said Warren.

The state announced plans to shutter SUNY Downstate Medical Center due to financial struggles and a crumbling building. Many of the inpatient services at the hospital will move across the street to NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County, which is public and city-run.

“We are operating over capacity here in Central Brooklyn and the plan is to consolidate the two institutions that are struggling the most in the borough?” said Sen. Zellnor Myrie, who represents parts of Brooklyn.

SUNY Downstate Medical Center has 342 certified beds and delivers about 730 babies annually. Kings County has 639 beds and 1,282 births a year. That means the hospital may see a more than 50% increase in births when downstate closes.

“By the Department of Health’s own calculations, we are doing them a disservice,” said Myrie. “We have less health care than more white and more affluent areas. So, to take this service away is a slap in the face to that very vulnerable population.”

According to city data, there were 51 pregnancy-associated deaths in the city in 2020. Twenty-three of them were Black women and 14 of those deaths occurred in Brooklyn.

Overall, the pregnancy-related mortality ratio for Black women is more than nine times that for white women.

“Eighty percent of it is preventable, so why is it happening? And many of my clients are Black and brown,” Warren said.

Mayor Eric Adams said last week he’s committed to working with the state to ensure there is no lapse in care for Brooklyn residents.

“We’re asking the governor’s people to sit down and come up with a real plan for health care in New York City,” Adams said. “Seeing downstate close is gonna have a major impact. We’re going to do everything to stabilize that health care situation in Central Brooklyn.”

In a statement, a spokesperson for SUNY Downstate Medical Center said, “On average, fewer than two babies per day are delivered in the current, deteriorating University Hospital building — just 3% of the total in Brooklyn. SUNY is committed to improving maternal health care outcomes in Central Brooklyn.”

Meanwhile, Gov. Kathy Hochul has committed to investing $500 million to expand outpatient services in a new $300 million facility. That will be located at a current SUNY-owned parking garage across the street from SUNY Downstate Medical Center.

Sources say construction on that site will begin as soon as possible, following engagement from stakeholders and the public.