Protests Erupt Over UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Clinic Relocation
Families, hospital staff, and supporters have recently gathered at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland, voicing strong opposition to the hospital’s decision to shift specialized treatment clinics to San Francisco. The move has sparked concerns over accessibility to crucial healthcare services.
Demonstrators argue that relocating these clinics poses significant challenges for patients needing care, questioning whether hospital funds meant for pediatric services are being appropriately allocated.
Hospital representatives, however, maintain that concentrating resources in San Francisco is intended to enhance the quality of specialized care services provided to patients.
Paola Portillo, a social worker speaking at the rally, highlighted that the transition began a year ago following the integration of UCSF Health with Children’s Hospital Oakland. This change, according to Portillo, forces patients requiring bone marrow treatments and interventional radiology to travel to San Francisco, which can be perilous.
“Children who go through a bone marrow transplant are immunocompromised, meaning that their immune system has been wiped out,” Portillo explained. “Having to take public transport to San Francisco exposes patients to the risk of getting a dangerous infection.”
Kristen Bole, a spokesperson for UCSF, defended the hospital’s decision by citing the benefits of centralizing services. “Inpatient BMT is a highly complex service where patient volume, specialized infrastructure, faculty coverage, and 24/7 support are essential,” she said in a statement. “Concentrating non-gene therapy inpatient BMT care at Mission Bay allows us to provide the safest and most sustainable model for patients and families.”
Hospital officials clarified that the move is not one-sided, as patients requiring rehabilitative treatment are now directed to the Oakland campus.
Concerns were also raised regarding the transparency of UCSF’s use of funds from Measure C, a 2020 sales tax initiative that partly funds pediatric healthcare. Agnes Cho, policy advisor for Alameda County Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas, emphasized the community’s efforts. “The community fought so hard for Measure C because every child deserves access to lifesaving, pediatric, high-quality care right here in Oakland,” she said. “The funding should go towards strengthening care for children right here in Oakland.”
Protesters further accused UCSF of mismanaging its $3.3 billion endowment, pointing to the costly construction of the UCSF Helen Diller Medical Center at Parnassus Heights.
Union President Dan Russell expressed dissatisfaction, saying, “What I have a problem with is saying the kids from the East Bay have to go to San Francisco to get care, so that UC can build a fancy hospital for its richest patients in San Francisco.”
In response, the UCSF spokeswoman reiterated the institution’s commitment to Oakland, highlighting ongoing investments. “Oakland is central to our pediatric health system, and we are making the largest investment in the campus’ history,” she stated. “We do not make investments of this scale in a campus, workforce, or community we plan to leave behind.”
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