Cornegy: Interfaith Will Stay Open Through December

The closure of Interfaith Hospital in Bed-Stuy has been postponed again, according to District Leader Robert Cornegy.

At Monday night's Community Board 3 meeting at Restoration Plaza, Cornegy — who recently won the Democratic City Council Primary — announced that the hospital had found the funding to stay open through the end of December. 

"This is another stay of execution," Cornegy said. "We've found the funding to continue to operate, Interfaith is not to be closed before December 31."

Interfaith, like Long Island College Hospital in Cobble Hill, has been at the center of a growing controversy as outer borough hospitals face bankruptcy and closure.

Interfaith was originally set for closure at the end of the summer, but has had its shutdown pushed back more than once now. 

Cornegy said he and the hospital staff are working to plan an "Oktoberfest" at the hospital as part of an outreach to community members to help explain Interfaith's community importance.

According to Cornegy, the event is happening because "a lot of people are concerned about Interfaith but haven't actually come out to see what Interfaith's about."

The event will take place Saturday, Oct. 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and hospital staff, including doctors, would be on hand to answer questions from community members.