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A group of nurses made the case for the Caritas
Carney Hospital at the Lower Mills Civic
Association last Tuesday night (Feb. 19), part of
an ongoing effort by the Massachusetts Nurses
Association to rally support for the hospital.
Currently under review by consultants hired by
parent Caritas Christi Healthcare and the Attorney
General's Office, the nurses were concerned about
the possibility Carney would close.
"So many of us have been there forever. I
started in 1969 when I went to school there," said
nurse Penny Connolly after speaking to the group.
"A lot of the people know the nurses by name. I
can't imagine it closing."
Out of the litany of pro-Carney arguments
presented by the nurses, including the 1,500 jobs
it provides, keeping emergency room waiting times
lower and fulfilling the mission of "serving the
less well-off," the Caritas Carney administration
supports the effort, according to spokesperson
Margaret Carr.
"The MNA's been really supportive of Carney, we
really value that relationship," she said. "The
only point we take exception to is the idea that
Caritas Christi has not supported the Carney. They
have provided financial assistance to us for years
and in fact last year they provided $6 million in
assistance to us."
As part of their presentation, Connolly asked
for a show of hands from people who use the Carney
on a regular basis. Less than half the 40 or so
people in the hall at St. Gregory's, just a few
blocks away from the hospital, raised their hands.
Connolly asks each civic association for input on
why people don't use the hospital, but said no one
has volunteered an answer to that question yet.
"That's the thing that we need to hear,"
Connolly said. "What can we do to bring you there.
And maybe that's what Caritas needs to hear."
The nurses are building a steering committee for
a neighborhood wide group that would support the
hospital, as well as collecting signatures from
area residents who want to keep it around. Contact
Brian Moloney at the MNA for more information,
781-830-5704.
&emdash;PETE STIDMAN
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