HAYWARD (BCN)--Nurses and community groups are holding a rally Tuesday afternoon to  protest plans to close the inpatient pediatric unit at Kaiser Permanente in  Hayward in 2014.

     

Liz Jacobs of the California Nurses Association said Tuesday that  the unit is important, and that more than 2,000 young children and teenagers  received care there in 2011.

     

Jacobs said nurses, firefighters and community groups are  concerned because the closure would force southern Alameda County families  with children who need to be hospitalized to drive to Oakland, Santa Clara or  other cities for care.

     

She said the Hayward inpatient pediatric unit currently serves  children who live in a geographic area that includes Hayward, Fremont, Union  City, San Lorenzo, San Leandro, and Castro Valley.

     

Jacobs said that if Kaiser's decision is not reversed, families  will be forced to take additional time off work, spend more time away from  home, and pay additional costs for travel and overnight accommodations.

     

Kaiser officials weren't immediately available for comment this  morning.

     

The rally will take place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday in front of  Kaiser Permanente at 27400 Hesperian Blvd. in Hayward.

     

Jacobs said that so far, more than 3,000 postcards have been sent  to Kaiser from members asking it to keep the pediatric unit.

 

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