Planned Parenthood closes Fitchburg facility

FITCHBURG - Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts has officially closed its Fitchburg Health Center, shifting its services to Worcester and Marlboro locations.

“Planned Parenthood has been in Massachusetts for nearly 100 years, and we’re not going anywhere,” said Dr. Jennifer Childs-Roshak, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. “The decision to close our Fitchburg Health Center and reallocate resources was driven by our mission to provide high-quality accessible care - no matter what.”

PPLM temporarily closed the Fitchburg facility in December because of recurring problems with the heating system, the organization said. The facility briefly reopened and then closed again in February. The organization decided to close the health center permanently in May.

The organization said it has doubled the hours of the Marlboro health center, which is now open six days a week. The Worcester health center is also open six days a week. All staff are retained at other health centers.

“Additionally, we have maintained our partnerships with community leaders to bring sexual health information to North Central Massachusetts through our outreach programs, parent and youth education workshops, and remote resources, like our Sexual Health Counseling and Referral Hotline,” Dr. Childs-Roshak said.

In 2018, the Fitchburg location provided health care services to 1,603 patients, according to the organization.