Boston’s City Council voted Wednesday to approve a resolution that calls on the city to declare a public health emergency as Steward Health Care moves to close Carney Hospital in Dorchester.The resolution urges the city and the Boston Public Health Commission to declare a public health emergency.”The loss of Carney Hospital would pose significant risk to the health and well-being to the communities served by these facilities, particularly a significant population from communities of color and economically disadvantaged residents disproportionately impacted by service closures,” the resolution states.It also urges the state to step in and keep the hospital running if and when Steward closes Carney, which is scheduled to shut down at the end of August.Nearly all members of the City Council voted in favor of the resolution, except for one who voted present. Hospital staff in the chamber cheered at the result. The resolution comes after Steward Health Care filed for bankruptcy in May. The Dallas-based company announced plans to close Carney and Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer in July because it told the court that qualified bids for the facilities were not received. The for-profit company told the bankruptcy court it plans to sell five other hospitals in Massachusetts. “I’m focused on saving five hospitals and protecting patients, jobs and stability of the health care market,” Gov. Maura Healey said Wednesday. “Working on and hoping a deal gets finalized so these hospitals can continue under different ownership.”Ahead of the Boston City Council meeting, doctors and nurses who work at Carney Hospital rallied at city hall.”I think everyone at Carney Hospital right now is still hoping that it can be saved because it plays such a critical role to the community, and the people who work here, a lot of them are from the neighborhood, and they have been here for decades,” Carney Hospital’s Dr. Amy Zhang said. On Tuesday, the Ayer Select Board convened a special meeting to address community concerns following the announcement that Nashoba Valley Medical Center will close. Ayer town officials pleaded with Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey to intervene.”Please Gov. Healey, come out here, talk to us, break the silence and keep NVMC open,” Chris Tavares, Ayer Select Board Vice Chair, said. “Having this place here, it just made us all feel safe.” The Healey administration has attributed the closures to financial mismanagement by the company. New bankruptcy documents indicate Steward hopes to sell its six other Massachusetts hospitals by Friday.The Boston City Council is meeting at noon to discuss the resolution.
Boston’s City Council voted Wednesday to approve a resolution that calls on the city to declare a public health emergency as Steward Health Care moves to close Carney Hospital in Dorchester.
The resolution urges the city and the Boston Public Health Commission to declare a public health emergency.
“The loss of Carney Hospital would pose significant risk to the health and well-being to the communities served by these facilities, particularly a significant population from communities of color and economically disadvantaged residents disproportionately impacted by service closures,” the resolution states.
It also urges the state to step in and keep the hospital running if and when Steward closes Carney, which is scheduled to shut down at the end of August.
Nearly all members of the City Council voted in favor of the resolution, except for one who voted present. Hospital staff in the chamber cheered at the result.
The resolution comes after Steward Health Care filed for bankruptcy in May. The Dallas-based company announced plans to close Carney and Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer in July because it told the court that qualified bids for the facilities were not received. The for-profit company told the bankruptcy court it plans to sell five other hospitals in Massachusetts.
“I’m focused on saving five hospitals and protecting patients, jobs and stability of the health care market,” Gov. Maura Healey said Wednesday. “Working on and hoping a deal gets finalized so these hospitals can continue under different ownership.”
Ahead of the Boston City Council meeting, doctors and nurses who work at Carney Hospital rallied at city hall.
“I think everyone at Carney Hospital right now is still hoping that it can be saved because it plays such a critical role to the community, and the people who work here, a lot of them are from the neighborhood, and they have been here for decades,” Carney Hospital’s Dr. Amy Zhang said.
On Tuesday, the Ayer Select Board convened a special meeting to address community concerns following the announcement that Nashoba Valley Medical Center will close.
Ayer town officials pleaded with Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey to intervene.
“Please Gov. Healey, come out here, talk to us, break the silence and keep NVMC open,” Chris Tavares, Ayer Select Board Vice Chair, said. “Having this place here, it just made us all feel safe.”
The Healey administration has attributed the closures to financial mismanagement by the company.
New bankruptcy documents indicate Steward hopes to sell its six other Massachusetts hospitals by Friday.
The Boston City Council is meeting at noon to discuss the resolution.
