Garcia, Welch, Willis Urge Governor Pritzker to Reopen Westlake Hospital

MELROSE PARK, Ill. – Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García, D-IL-04, State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Westchester, and state Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Northlake, released the following statement seeking the expeditious consideration from Governor Pritzker to reopen Westlake Hospital in Melrose Park.

“As leaders in the State of Illinois during this challenging health crisis, it is our duty to do all that we can to protect the health and safety of all of our residents. We strongly encourage the careful and expeditious consideration of Gov. Pritzker to reopen Westlake Hospital in Melrose Park to help provide additional medical resources and services to our neighbors who need it most.

“We now know the COVID-19 pandemic has long-term implications for all of us. We also know that it will continue to put a major strain on our health care facilities and their ability to properly treat all patients that need care. It is projected that our existing hospitals will soon be overcrowded, and it is imperative to expand the access to medical services for patients with COVID-19 as well as other individuals seeking medical attention. We strongly believe that re- opening Westlake Hospital, even with a limited capacity, will have a positive impact in our region as our state advances to meet the growing demands of this pandemic.

“We commend Gov. Pritzker for his outstanding leadership during this challenging time and for the bold and innovative actions he has initiated to protect the public health of our communities and healthcare workers, including enlisting the help of the Illinois National Guard. We ask for his careful and expeditious consideration to build on those actions to use the National Guard’s assistance to reopen Westlake Hospital. We stand with Gov. Pritzker in this fight to protect all Illinoisans against the spread of COVID-19, and we remain committed to doing our part to keep our communities safe and healthy.”