News13 first reported earlier this week, Marlboro Park Hospital in Bennettsville will soon close.
“It’s hard to swallow. It’s hard for me and my community,” mentioned Sully Blair, chairman of the Marlboro County Task Force.
The father of two knows the fear many have when a community loses a hospital.
“I know for me I have two boys, young kids. One’s an athlete. What if he gets hurt and it’s an emergency? Where is he going to go,” he added.
Marlboro Park Hospital announced it will close its doors on April 25th and transfer its remaining patients to Chesterfield General Hospital in Cheraw.
This comes almost a month after McLeod Health signed a letter of intent relating to both Chesterfield General and Marlboro Park in Bennettsville.
“Even with this information that we have that we are closing. The task force is working very hard,” explained Blair.
State representative’s Richie Yow and Pat Henegan created a task force when the hospital was in jeopardy of closing months earlier.
They will now work with both McLeod and Scotland Health Care to find solutions.
“I mean where are we going to go, you know what I’m saying. We do need it I just hope once it gets situated it will be a better facility for everybody,” said Vondrea Johnson, who is a Bennettsville resident.
“Absolutely there’s hope. We’re not giving up,” Blair said.
McLeod Health says a study is under way to determine what services are needed in the Chesterfield area, as it consolidates services to Cheraw.
