Statement from Tim Foley, 1199SEIU executive vice president, on critical importance in maintaining care provided by current Steward Healthcare hospitals: 

“The healthcare workers of 1199SEIU members are concerned about the future of Steward Healthcare in Massachusetts. However, we are hopeful by the commitment of stakeholders to protect critical healthcare jobs and maintain care in our communities. The care provided by 1199 members throughout the Steward system and their co-workers is essential to the communities they serve, sometimes being the only hospital in the area for patients. Given the current hospital capacity and staffing shortage, our healthcare system simply cannot allow community hospitals to close. We must protect community care and avoid exacerbating health inequities. We stand ready to work with the Healey-Driscoll administration, the Massachusetts legislature, and all stakeholders to ensure that Massachusetts patients can continue to receive quality care in the community hospitals they know from the caregivers they trust.”