BOSTON — A rally was held Wednesday at the Massachusetts State House to try to save two Steward Health Care hospitals from closing this weekend.
“Very simple, people will die”
The two hospitals, Carney Hospital in Dorchester and Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer, will close on Saturday, August 31.
“Very simple: people will die,” said one protester who was at the rally along with nurses, doctors, community members, government officials and others.
“In Nashoba, they have to drive half an hour to get to the emergency room and that’s not acceptable,” said Lyn Newkirk, a volunteer with Mass-Care, a group campaigning for a unified health care system in the state.
The closure of hospitals were announced in late July after their owner, Steward Health Care, bankruptcy filedMassachusetts Governor Maura Healey promised five of Other Steward Hospitals in Massachusettswith her administration even approving additional funding to keep hospitals open through September while purchasing agreements were finalized. Protesters said they are angry that the same energy is not being given to communities they believe need it most.
Time is running out
“The Healey administration did an analysis of the 10 communities that needed to be protected. Two of those were Ayer and Dorchester. Those are the two communities they’re going to close and that’s not right,” Newkirk said.
“It really helps communities in need and we need to step up, we need to step up and take care of people,” said retired health care professional Bruce Fliescher.
For patients like Bonnie Gormen of Quincy, it’s a familiar feeling. Since Steward closed Quincy Medical Center a few years ago, she says it’s become harder to get the care she needs.
“We have nothing and we have to go to Carney Hospital,” Gormen said.
Protesters are asking Healey to approve emergency funds to keep the hospitals open while they wait for a potential buyer.
