Providence Seaside Hospital will close its labor and delivery unit this fall, citing rising costs, workforce shortages and a sharp decline in births at the facility.

Providence Health & Services Oregon announced Tuesday that obstetrics and inpatient newborn care will end at the Seaside hospital on Oct. 4. Outpatient prenatal services and surgical gynecologic care will also be discontinued.

Hospital leaders said the number of deliveries at Providence Seaside has dropped in recent years — from 66 in 2022 to 56 in 2023. The decline was compounded by the retirement of the hospital’s last remaining OB/GYN physician on Aug. 1, and hospital officials said two years spent trying to recruit a replacement have proven unsuccessful.

Providence officials also cited persistent difficulties hiring nur

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