The Swedish in Ballard will be closing its emergency and labor and delivery departments this week while healthcare workers strike for better staffing and improved patient care.
Swedish has announced that the Labor and Delivery unit at the Ballard campus is now closed, and will remain closed until Friday, Jan. 31 at 9am. Existing OB patients who have appointments this week should reach out to reschedule — those who need immediate care should visit the OB units at Edmonds or First Hill.
The emergency department is also closing tonight at 7pm, expected to reopen Friday, Jan. 31 at 8am. Swedish says those with urgent medical needs should visit one of the five other campuses that will remain open during the strike: First Hill, Cherry Hill, Issaquah, Mill Creek or Edmonds.
The strike will start Tuesday morning at 7am — expect to see picketers outside the Ballard campus throughout the strike.