The Massachusetts Nurses Association/National Nurses United (MNA/NNU), the state’s largest union and professional association for registered nurses and health care professionals, has announced its endorsement and strong support for John McCaul, Independent incumbent candidate for the Taunton City Council
The MNA/NNU endorsement is in recognition of McCaul’s tireless efforts this past spring to join with nurses, pediatricians and others involved with this service to mobilize public awareness of and support for a city-wide effort to save the pediatric unit at Steward Morton Hospital following the unexpected announcement by Steward Health Care of a plan to close the unit.
“John McCaul demonstrated tremendous leadership and a real commitment to the children and families of our community in his efforts to save this beloved service, that has been a fixture in our community for more than 50 years,” said Joyce Wilkins, RN, a nurse at the Morton Hospital and chair of the MNA/NNU local bargaining unit. “He not only listened to the concerns of caregivers and parents about this issue, he rolled up his sleeves and took concrete steps to address those concerns.”
In his effort to preserve the pediatric service, McCaul invited nurses on his cable television show to talk about the pediatric unit and the services it provides. He also published a compelling editorial in the local paper about the unit, he helped gather signatures on petitions to save the service, and he worked with other public officials on the city and state level to convince the appropriate state officials of the need to protect the pediatric unit from closure. This culminated with his testimony, along with dozens of other concerned residents and officials at the Department of Public Health hearing on the closing, which resulted in the DPH issuing a finding that the pediatric unit was an essential service to the community which should not be closed.
McCaul has also been a strong supporter of efforts by the Taunton school nurses to improve school health services for school age children; and was also involved in the campaign by local officials to save Taunton State Hospital from closure.
According to Donna Kelly-Williams, President of the MNA/NNU, “John McCaul is a public official who cares about people and someone who has demonstrated he will do the work necessary to help them, and as such, we are pleased to endorse and support his re-election.”
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