Photo: Madison Rogers/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — A rally was held outside the Massachusetts State House Wednesday in a last-ditch effort to keep Carney Hospital in Dorchester and Ayer's Nashoba Valley Medical open.
Bankrupt Steward Health Care said it found no buyers for the two hospitals.
But members of the communities, hospital employees, elected officials, and labor activists at the rally said it's not too late to save the hospitals from closing, and steps need to be taken that include declaring a public health emergency and/or tapping into the state's rainy-day fund. "We are asking for the bare minimum, and we know that it's possible," said Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune.
"We didn't work hard enough to get qualified bidders, and we let Steward do whatever they wanted," she added.
Asked to respond to the requests made at the rally to keep the hospitals open, Governor Maura Healey's office said in a statement: “The Healey-Driscoll administration shares the frustration of communities and staff regarding Steward's planned closures of Carney and Nashoba Valley Hospitals. Unfortunately, these hospitals did not receive qualified bids to continue operating. We have been working with other hospitals and health centers in these regions to preserve access to essential medical services and help patients transition their care. We also have teams on the ground helping staff find new employment opportunities."
Both hospitals are scheduled to close Saturday, August 31.
WBZ NewsRadio's Madison Rogers (@MadisonWBZ) reports.
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