September 3, 2025
UF Health Leesburg to Close Labor and Delivery Services, Sparking Community Concern
By AkersMedia
UF Health Leesburg to Close Labor and Delivery Services, Sparking Community Concern
by Kyle Coppola and Cindy Peterson
In a move that has stunned patients, physicians and local residents, UF Health Leesburg announced plans to close its Labor and Delivery unit, along with other women's and pediatric health services, effective in just 45 days.
"As the health needs of our community evolve, UF Health Leesburg Hospital is expanding and enhancing specialized women's services to reflect priorities identified in the 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment for Lake and Sumter counties," Greg Harrison, Assistant Vice President, External Communications of UF Health says.
"These include high-demand areas such as comprehensive breast health, urogynecology, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and stroke care — especially important for the region's growing population of women over age 55. To support this shift and provide for continuity of care, we will shift obstetrical services to neighboring hospitals after Oct. 15. With significantly fewer deliveries compared with other regional centers and a community increasingly composed of older adults, maintaining full labor and delivery services is no longer sustainable. We are taking steps to ensure every patient and team member feels supported through this transition."
Meet Amelia Grace, the adorable bundle born at UF Health Leesburg hospital. Baby Amelia couldn't wait to say hello, arriving on the last day of 2023 at 10:30 a.m., surprising everyone with her early debut. Proud parents Laura Hyndshaw and family are overjoyed to celebrate Amelia's unique birthday—123123!
The decision, quietly delivered via email, will eliminate obstetric care, pediatric services and gynecology support at one of Lake County's primary healthcare providers, leaving expectant mothers scrambling for alternatives in neighboring cities.
"I'm heartbroken and outraged," says local resident Angela Ugarte, whose 17-weeks-pregnant daughter had planned to deliver at UF Health Leesburg. "Where will young mothers safely deliver their babies? The closest facilities are now in Eustis, Ocala, or Clermont — which means families will be forced to travel long distances in emergency situations. What happens to the women who rely on local GYN care if practices are forced to close or relocate? This decision creates a healthcare crisis for every family in our area."
Healthcare providers and staff were reportedly given little notice of the changes, despite years of service to the hospital and the community. The abrupt nature of the announcement has raised concerns about transparency and planning.
Dr. Douglas Moffett, an OBGYN at UFHealth, posted on social media his plea.
"Anyone who wants to keep women's health care in our community, please call UF Leesburg and let them know shutting down our labor floor will cause major harm to the area," he says. "Where will our young mothers go and who will be here to practice GYN for the other women if the local practices are forced to close down or move as a result? Please make your voices heard. We just found this out and we have 45 days until we are no longer providing OB services in our town!"
Community members fear that the closures will put vulnerable populations at risk particularly women in low-income or transportation-limited households. In emergency situations such as preterm labor or pregnancy complications, driving 30 to 60 minutes to the next nearest hospital could have life-threatening consequences.
"There's no way other hospitals can support the surge of patient care this will bring," resident Allison Liston says. "Everyone, please help."
That’s what the villages hospital is for, is for the geriatric care of the community. What about the young women and children of the community?! I’m delivering my baby there just a week before this insane shut down, this is my 3rd baby being delivered at that hospital and taking away that source of the growing families around Sumter and lake county is an outrage to the community and puts us all at risk. Lake OBGYN and its doctors/staff have worked tirelessly and dedicated their lives to the women of this community. These babies are important too, not just the geriatrics- which like I said , already have their own hospital!
It’s absolutely outrageous that they are going to close the Labor and Delivery unit!! What are soon to be Mothers supposed to do travel long distances when in labor? Not safe for Mother or Baby!! They really need to rethink this decision!!!!
Even the idea of you guys closing out a pit in my stomach. For the families in lake county and really all around we BEG you to not close the labor and Delivery floor. My family and so many other families are in need of Leesburgs labor and delivery to stay OPEN! It not only has the best staff but I feel safe going there for the birth of my children. Please for our community keep the labor and delivery!
This is a ridiculous decision. Women need to be able to have their babies in a safe, local, established hospital. Shame on you.
I can’t believe that this is happening. What about the young mothers without reliable transportation? Where are they to go? How are they supposed to get there? This is just ridiculous!!
This is beyond concerning, many years ago I had a placenta abruption at 32 weeks during my child’s baseball game, fortunately the hospital was a short drive from the field behind big lots and I made it to the hospital quickly, my Dr , Dr Moffett was there so quickly he held my hand in the elevator as I was rushed upstairs for an emergency surgery which not only saved my life but my sons life who was life flighted to the nicu at SHANDS, it was a scary moment for all which may have had dire consequences had the services and my doctor not been in such close proximity. This is a very scary decision for Leesburg families who may not have the same outcomes due to not having the availability of facilities or physicians to handle such critical cases, I hope the community outpouring causes a reconsideration and considers the safety and well being of expectant parents who may find themselves in a similar situation, the additional timeline imposed of 45 days will leave many families scrambling for high risk local care for their pregnancies which is another cause for concern. Very very disappointed in this decision.
This is quite possibly the worst decision I have heard in years. Leesburg and the immediate surrounding areas have many growing families that need safe, easy access to care. Yes, Lake County is “growing older” but there are still MANY young families in the area that NEED the services that will soon be unavailable nearby. Awful decision.
This is a shame, they doing this.
The Hippocratic Oath stated by Hippocrates 2400 years ago says “I will do no harm”. This is the
oath that physicians take. It seems evident to me that the UF Hospital in Leesburg is ignoring
the “Do No Harm” part of the oath. I am aware that hospitals do not have to adhere to
the “oath” ,but out of respect to humanity , they should. Shame on the management for their
actions in closing of the obstetric and gynecology services . I was on the Board of Directors and
Treasurer of the hospital for 20 years ending in 2001. From the 1930’s to the 1960’s my father
Dr. M.B. O’Kelley delivered over 1200 babies along with a number of other doctors and the hospital
did just fine. I ask that the current management reconsider their decision to close the OB unit.
It will not only be a burden to the future mothers , but a serious hardship to all the great Physicians who practice here.
M.B. “Butch” O’Kelley