Elected officials in two east suburban communities approved formal resolutions opposing a plan by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to close its hospital in Braddock.

Wilkinsburg Council voted 9-0 on Wednesday to approve a resolution endorsing Braddock's campaign to "save our hospital."

"Wilkinsburg does not have an emergency room. ... Many, many residents of Wilkinsburg depend on Braddock," said Councilwoman Denise Edwards.

Braddock Hills Council on Thursday authorized borough Solicitor Robert Garvin to draft a similar measure.

The resolutions are part of an escalating campaign to try to keep the hospital open.

"We will maintain the pressure on UPMC. We feel like we've been hurt, obviously," said Braddock Mayor John Fetterman.

Officials in Turtle Creek, North Braddock, Munhall, Rankin, Forest Hills, Homestead, West Homestead and Swissvale have voiced their support for the campaign, Fetterman said.

UPMC spokesman Paul Wood said he hadn't seen the resolutions and couldn't comment on them.

UPMC officials say they intend to close the Braddock hospital Jan. 31 because of low occupancy of medical-surgical beds, a shrinking service area, difficulty recruiting doctors and the recession. The hospital lost $7.5 million in fiscal 2009, officials said.

UPMC said it invested more than $60 million in the Braddock facility since acquiring it in 1995.

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