(San Francisco) -- After advocating for months to save Seton Medical Center, Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) commended Governor Newsom for using special COVID-19 response funds from the state budget to secure the services of the Daly City hospital. The facility was set for imminent closure and would have left the southern portion of San Francisco and Northern San Mateo County with no emergency room, potentially straining other nearby urgent care centers and forcing residents to drive farther for care.
“I’m grateful the Governor saw the urgent need to keep Seton Medical Center open during this pandemic,” said Ting, whose district includes Daly City. “But even after our current public health crisis passes, it would be imperative for this facility to remain open because 27,000 patients, mostly elderly and low-income, are served there. Seton’s immediate closure would have created a health care desert. I’m proud to have joined with community leaders over the past year to work toward saving it."
The agreement with Seton is made possible under SB 89, a bill which Ting, as Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, urged lawmakers to pass on Monday, allocating up to $1 billion to help the state combat COVID-19. The measure passed with bipartisan support in both houses and was signed by the Governor on Tuesday.
In August 2018, Verity, owners of Seton Medical Center and other health facilities, filed for bankruptcy. Seton garnered some interest from buyers, but a sale never materialized, worrying community leaders. The state stepping in is welcome news because the move buys some time.
Seton Medical Center was founded more a century ago in San Francisco, operating as Mary’s Help Hospital. It moved to its current location in 1965, becoming Daly City’s largest employer with about 1,500 workers. The facility has 357 beds, and 80% of patients use MediCal and Medicare.
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