A coalition of labor, community, and faith-based groups, known as Our Community | Our Hospital, has announced a series of standouts at Steward Health Care hospitals across Massachusetts. These actions are prompted by concerns over the potential closure of Steward hospitals and the reduction of essential healthcare services. The coalition is urging elected officials to intervene and assist in securing new hospital owners, highlighting the critical need to safeguard healthcare access for over 200,000 individuals residing in Steward zones.
The coalition’s primary objective is to prevent the closure of any Steward hospitals, emphasizing the catastrophic impact it would have on the healthcare infrastructure of the Commonwealth, particularly for vulnerable patients and families. The petition initiated by the coalition calls for the transition of Steward hospitals to non-profit ownership, ensuring the continuity of care services. The coalition stresses that the loss of these facilities would result in dangerous delays in care, increased travel distances for patients seeking treatment, and, in severe cases, a complete lack of access to essential healthcare.
The coalition comprises various organizations, including the Massachusetts Nurses Association and 1199 SEIU, but a comprehensive list of member groups has yet to be released. State officials have expressed strong criticism of Steward’s management and are actively working behind the scenes to develop contingency plans that will safeguard healthcare services in the event of hospital closures. However, the coalition remains concerned about the lack of clarity regarding long-term solutions to protect the future of healthcare across the Commonwealth, especially given the rapidly approaching April 30 deadline for a Steward loan agreement.
A series of rallies have been scheduled by the coalition to raise awareness and garner support for their cause. A community rally is planned for Tuesday at Morton Hospital in Taunton at 3:45 p.m. Additional rallies will be held on Wednesday in Brockton, Haverhill, and Methuen, followed by rallies in Fall River and Dorchester on Thursday. The coalition’s efforts will culminate in a rally in front of St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Brighton on Monday, April 29, at 3 p.m. These standouts aim to mobilize community members and advocate for the preservation of essential healthcare services in their respective areas.
