To the editor:
Re “West Villagers want more data from E.M.S.” (news article by Aline Reynolds, July 27)
Thank you for keeping focused on the problem of Emergency Care for The West Side since the demise of Saint Vincent’s Hospital. Thank you for quoting E.M.S. Chief Nahmod as saying: “I feel that a community as large as ours needs a full-service hospital… its the West Side that becomes a little bit of a geographical nightmare for ambulances… we support every initiative to serve the community, including building another hospital.”
He understands, as do many, that even a small, full service emergency room on the West Side is vital to New York City. If there are no emergencies, an urgent care facility is OK, but a full service emergency room must be made available for the inevitable emergencies that will occur on the West Side. When that electrical fire and explosion (near a gas main) occurred on 57th St and 1st Avenue recently, I gave thanks that it happened on the East Side. The burned and injured had access to many Emergency rooms, unlke on the West Side where there are few emergency resources. Fortunately the gas main did not explode and there were no injuries, but we might not be so lucky the next time. Again I thank you for keeping this before the public eye by your fine reporting.
Elizabeth Ryan
