In a matter of months, Scripps Health plans to close its maternity ward at Scripps Mercy Chula Vista and move their labor and delivery operations to their hospital in Hillcrest. Scripps Health said this upcoming consolidation will help meet the rising number of emergency room patients they are currently seeing in Chula Vista. Some patient advocates, though, have some concerns about this move. "I think it is always concerning, whenever we are talking about closing labor and delivery units, because what we are doing is we are essentially closing access," said San Diego Assembly Member Dr. Akilah Weber, who is also a practicing OB/GYN. She added that this is one of a growing number of closures of maternity wards across California. "Unfortunately where you're seeing up and down the state these labor and delivery units closing, there are communities that really need them there the most," Dr. Weber told CBS 8. FULL STORY: https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/scripps-health-move-chula-vista-maternity-ward/509-5119d6fc-bdaf-4f08-a621-f87e80463859