NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull initiated a significant renovation of its Labor and Birthing Suite on August 21, 2023, with a budget of $20 million. This project, bolstered by $11 million in capital funding from the borough, aims to modernize and expand the facilities to better support families in North Brooklyn. The upgrades are projected to be completed by fall 2027.
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “Every family in Brooklyn deserves to welcome their child into the world in a safe, comfortable, and supportive environment.” The renovation plan includes the addition of new birthing center rooms equipped with hydrotherapy tubs, an upgraded recovery area, and expanded operating rooms designed to enhance workflow and accommodate advanced medical equipment.
Comprehensive Improvements Planned
The renovation will also feature a simulation lab, which will be instrumental in training staff for various delivery scenarios. Additional enhancements will provide improved comfort spaces for families, reorganized nurse stations, and renovated medicine and recovery rooms. Facilities for hospital staff will also see significant updates, including new break rooms, locker rooms, and on-call suites.
Construction will be executed in phases, ensuring that patients continue to receive uninterrupted care throughout the process. Woodhull Hospital recorded nearly 1,000 births in 2024, making it one of three city hospitals receiving targeted investments to improve maternal care.
These renovations are part of a broader agenda to address maternal health disparities in New York City, where Black women face a maternal mortality rate that is eight times higher than that of their white counterparts.
Supporting Maternal Health Initiatives
The investment in Woodhull’s facilities complements Reynoso’s wider maternal health agenda, which includes the establishment of the Maternal Health Task Force. This initiative is aimed at funding educational campaigns and supporting hospital infrastructure while expanding community-based programs such as “Born in Brooklyn” baby boxes and the Community Baby Shower Fund. Recently, Reynoso’s office collaborated with Brooklyn College to launch New York State’s first Advanced Certificate in Perinatal Mental Health.
Manuel Saez, PhD, Vice President of the Office of Facilities Development at NYC Health + Hospitals, highlighted the significance of this investment, stating, “At NYC Health + Hospitals, we know that continued investment in our facilities is crucial to the communities we serve. These upgrades to the physical environment of Woodhull’s Labor and Birthing Suite will allow for a higher level of service and experience for the families of North Brooklyn.”
The renovation at Woodhull Hospital reflects ongoing efforts to improve maternal health care and address critical disparities, ensuring that all families have access to safe and supportive environments during one of life’s most significant moments.
