MELROSE PARK (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The fate of Westlake Hospital in west suburban Melrose Park is on hold for a few more days after a judge's decision Friday afternoon.
The judge at Daley Plaza issued a temporary restraining order so she can review the case further, meaning the 230-bed hospital will stay open at least until another hearing scheduled for Tuesday.
Supporters at the hearing gave out "Westlake Warriors" buttons to the those who attended, and community groups wore t-shirts to show solidarity with the hospital.
State representative Chris Welch of the 7th District attended the hearing on the 24th floor. He is trying to keep the hospital open, saying its new owner and state regulators are not doing the right thing.
"Pipeline has misled the community the entire time," Welch said. "The review board didn't follow its own rules and the law. The village and the State Attorney are stepping up to say the law means something. These folks are ignoring the law and we're going to continue to fight to protect the law and fight to protect access to healthcare."
Doctor Raymond McDonald has worked at Westlake for 45 years and told WBBM it is a good decision for us and the people of Melrose Park.
"I certainly hope we get a white knight that comes in and helps us run this hospital like it should be run and has been run for like 95 years," McDonald said. "This is ridiculous how these people came in from California (and) bought the hospital with the intention of closing it."
State regulators earlier approved owner Pipeline Health’s request to close the hospital.
A community group, West Suburban Action Project, and village officials were concerned the hospital would close sometime Friday but lawyers for the hospital, doctors at Westlake and others say the hospital remains fully staffed for now because of the temporary restraining order.
Two Westlake nurses who attended Friday's hearing declined to be interviewed by the media saying they had to rush back to the hospital because they needed to get back to work immediately.