BOSTON — Tim Foley, Executive Vice President at 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, released the following statement in response to the approval of Steward Health Care’s sale of six of its Massachusetts hospitals to new buyers.

“It’s a bright new day for healthcare workers and our patients. With the approved sale of six Steward hospitals today, Massachusetts can finally start to turn the page on Steward’s greed and mismanagement. We are grateful to Governor Healey and her administration and to the Legislature for their leadership in preserving these six hospitals, and for their commitment of the substantial resources that are needed to stabilize our healthcare system. The same level of commitment is still needed to ensure a community-led process to shape the future of care at Carney and Nashoba Valley.

“With Steward finally on its way out of Massachusetts, the critical work of transitioning the hospitals to their new owners can begin. Throughout this complicated process, patient safety and workers’ rights need to be protected, and new investments will be needed to help stabilize our fragile hospitals and their vital workforces.

“Healthcare workers are the heart and soul of our hospitals, and Steward workers stuck around through months of uncertainty because of our strong commitment to our patients. We look forward to meeting with the hospitals’ new owners to maintain and strengthen the rights and working conditions of essential hospital workers, so we can keep delivering quality care to our patients.”

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