SE Twin Cities

State Representative Keith Allen (R–19A) has voiced strong opposition to Allina Health’s recent decision to discontinue several key medical services at Faribault Medical Center. The move is part of a regional consolidation plan with Owatonna Hospital.

Allina Health announced that labor and delivery services at Faribault Medical Center will be consolidated into Owatonna Hospital starting December 1, 2025. Pediatric admissions in Faribault are set to end in May 2026, and emergency surgical coverage during evenings and weekends will also be discontinued. Patients needing these services will be transferred either to Owatonna or to facilities in the Twin Cities.

In response, Rep. Allen issued a statement: “The decision by Allina Health to eliminate key services from Faribault Medical Center is deeply concerning and unacceptable for the people of southern Minnesota,” said Rep. Allen. “Families in Faribault and the surrounding area deserve reliable, local access to labor and delivery care, emergency surgery, and pediatric services. Shifting these essential services to another city creates unnecessary risks for patients and additional strain on families, especially in emergencies.”

Rep. Allen also pointed out that this development reflects wider challenges facing rural health care providers across Minnesota. “Communities outside the metro area are being forced to absorb the consequences of workforce shortages, financial pressures, and decisions made without meaningful local input,” Allen said. “We cannot allow rural hospitals to quietly lose critical services one by one. Every Minnesotan deserves safe, timely, and local access to health care.”