(June 3, 2009)

ROBSTOWN--A well-known Robstown medical clinic will be no more. Officials from Driscoll Children's Hospital confirm October 31 will be the last day of business in the small town.

The medical clinic has been open for nearly 40 years. With fewer patients at the clinic, officials decided to close the operation, but area residents plan to fight to keep it open.

Annabelle Rivera takes her two small children to the Driscoll Children's Hospital medical clinic in Robstown. She had no idea the clinic will shut down by October 31st.

"They have been coming here since they were born and I really like it here.," said Rivera.  "It's sad they're closing down."

The Driscoll Children's Hospital Clinic has been in downtown Robstown for 38 years. Officials claim a small number of patients combined with more pediatricians in Robstown led to their decision to shut down.

"They need to be here because a lot of people already know them and trust them and they take walk ins that don't need appointments," said Sandra Gonzalez, who has taken her family to the clinic for years. 

The clinic will close within the next five months. For the patients living in Robstown, they'll be forced to find a new pediatrician.

"I don't know," said Rivera. "I don't know. I am going to have to go somwhere else."

But some, like Gonzalez, plan to pass a petition around urging the clinic to stay open.

"I just hope they change their mind and don't close the clinic afterall," Gonzalez said. 

"I would like for them to stay open," said Rivera. "I would really like for them to stay open."

Come the end of October, it may be an end of an era in Robstown.

--Manuel De La Rosa, Area 3 News, mdelarosa@kiiitv.com