Watch a powerful interview with MNA member and Morton Maternity Nurse Jacqui Fitts, who appeared on NECN’s First Take with Sue O’Connell on March 6 to discuss community opposition to the proposed closing of the maternity unit at Morton by Steward Health Care.
In fall 2017, Steward temporarily closed its maternity unit at Morton Hospital because of its alleged inability to settle a dispute with the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization. Since then, Steward has proposed shutting down the unit permanently. It is diverting Morton maternity patients to Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton, also a Steward facility, which is already at capacity and lacks the staff needed to compensate for the loss of services at Morton Hospital.
Nurses, lawmakers and the Greater Taunton community have urged Steward to keep its Morton maternity unit open. Recently, the state Department of Public Health issued a finding “that the Obstetrics and Neonatal Care Program provided by the hospital is in fact necessary for preserving access and health status within the Hospital’s service area.”
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