PUBLIC HEALTH ADVOCACY LETTER

Women’s Services & NICU Care at Henderson Hospital

Date: May 13, 2026

To: Hospital Leadership, Community Stakeholders, Media, and Elected Officials

This document is a collective statement from nurses, healthcare staff, and community stakeholders regarding the potential closure of Women’s Services and the NICU at Henderson Hospital. It includes a public-facing statement followed by supporting clinical and operational context, as well as signature pages for collective endorsement.

We are writing to express serious concern regarding the potential closure of Women’s Services and the NICU at Henderson Hospital, as communicated during a staff meeting on May 4, 2026.

Henderson Hospital serves a critical role for women, newborns, and high-risk pregnancies in the southeast Las Vegas Valley. The facility provides thousands of obstetric encounters annually, including emergency triage and delivery services..

The hospital’s Level III NICU provides care for critically ill and premature newborns requiring advanced neonatal support. 

The closure of these services extends beyond a routine operational decision. It would create a significant gap in maternal and neonatal healthcare access for a rapidly growing region. The nearest alternative facility is approximately 10 miles away, with travel times that may extend significantly during emergencies. In obstetric and neonatal crises, delays in access to care can materially impact outcomes for both mothers and infants.

This concern is amplified by ongoing national maternal and infant morbidity and mortality trends, where timely access to obstetric and neonatal care is a recognized determinant of outcomes. 

In addition to serving Henderson residents, the hospital supports surrounding rural and frontier communities across Nevada and Arizona. Many of these communities already face limited maternity services, reduced specialist availability, or lack access to higher levels of maternal and neonatal critical care. Families are already traveling long distances to receive appropriate care. 

Eliminating Women’s Services and NICU care would reduce regional healthcare capacity, put strain on neighboring hospitals, while increasing barriers to care for vulnerable patients. It will directly affect both patients and the healthcare workforce, including more than 140 nurses, staff, and clinical professionals.

We respectfully urge healthcare leadership, policymakers, and community stakeholders to fully evaluate the public health impact of this decision and to consider all possible measures to preserve these essential services.

Respectfully submitted,

The undersigned nurses, staff, healthcare professionals, and community stakeholders.

                                                                                                APPENDIX

APPENDIX: Supporting Data and Context

This document provides supporting data and context regarding the role of Women’s Services and NICU care at Henderson Hospital.

Maternal Services Volume

In 2024, Henderson Hospital supported 2,418 deliveries and evaluated 3,284 pregnant women through obstetric triage for emergency pregnancy-related care. In 2025, the hospital supported 2,016 deliveries and evaluated 3,099 pregnant women in obstetric triage.

Neonatal Intensive Care Capacity

The hospital’s Level III NICU cared for 290 critically ill or premature newborns in 2024 and 279 infants in 2025. To date in 2026, the NICU has already cared for 92 infants requiring advanced neonatal services.

Geographic Access and Emergency Travel Time

The next closest hospital providing labor and delivery services is approximately 10 miles away, with travel times that may extend to 25 minutes or longer during peak traffic, construction, or emergency conditions. In obstetric and neonatal emergencies, delays in access to care can significantly affect outcomes for both mothers and infants.

Regional and Rural Coverage Area

In addition to serving Henderson residents, the hospital provides care for surrounding rural and frontier communities in Nevada and Arizona, including Boulder City, Searchlight, Pahrump, Kingman, Bullhead City, Lake Havasu City, and White Hills. Many of these communities already experience limited access to maternity services, reduced specialist availability, or lack proximity to higher-level maternal and neonatal care.

Public Health Context

The United States continues to face elevated maternal and infant morbidity and mortality rates compared to other developed nations. Access to timely obstetric and neonatal care is a key factor in improving outcomes and reducing preventable complications.

Workforce Impact

The potential closure would directly impact and displace more than 140 nurses, support staff, and healthcare professionals currently providing Women’s Services and NICU care.