Layoffs And Service Cuts At Pottstown Hospital — Shocks Workers
Tower Health stunned health care workers and patients Monday with sweeping layoffs and the abrupt shutdown of key units at Pottstown Hospital. The system announced it will cut 131 jobs — about two months from now — and shutter the hospital’s intensive care unit, step-down unit, and endoscopy center.
Union leaders and staff described the move as life-altering. “Slashing services and laying off skilled caregivers isn’t just reckless, it’s cruel,” said Maureen May, president of the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals (PASNAP), which represents many Pottstown employees.
Patients are voicing outrage, too. Johnny Corson, a multiple myeloma patient who depends on monthly infusions, said he felt betrayed. “I never thought about death before,” he told CBS Philadelphia, adding that the nurses at the cancer center “treat you like your family.”
Tower Health said the cuts reflect mounting financial pressure across its system. CEO Michael Stern acknowledged the impact but argued the move is necessary for long-term stability. While the ICU, cancer services, and endoscopy center will close at Pottstown, many of those services will continue at nearby hospitals in the network.
Still, for many in Pottstown, the loss is deeply personal. ICU nurse Beth Ridgely said the hospital was more than just a medical facility — “it’s a lifeline.”
The layoffs — set to take effect around January 16, 2026 — come amid Tower Health’s broader cuts. The parent system is shedding roughly 350 jobs, or 3% of its workforce.
The union has signaled it may take further action, and at least one patient has filed a complaint with the Pennsylvania Attorney General.
