On July 9, UPTE organized a rally in conjunction with ParentVoices Oakland to keep major healthcare services at Children’s Hospital Oakland (CHO) where children and their families will able to access them without facing additional hurdles.
Over the past year, UCSF has moved bone marrow treatments and interventional radiology from CHO across the bay to San Francisco—creating dangerous barriers for immunocompromised children. The shift has created new barriers and risks for families whose children are battling cancer, sickle cell anemia and other serious illnesses—forcing them to travel across the Bay for care that was previously available in Oakland.
“Dozens of families who used to get care here in Oakland are being told to go back and forth across the Bay when their child’s immune system is at its most fragile. These kids and families don’t need additional obstacles to being healthy and safe. We’re calling on UCSF to keep specialized pediatric care in Oakland, where our community can access it,” said Paola Portillo, UPTE member and clinical social worker at CHO.
“I have known no other hospital to take better care of children and families than Children’s Hospital Oakland… This has a huge negative impact on Black and brown families in our community,” said Ruby Butler, Oakland parent and member of Parent Voices Oakland.