Well, that’s a bummer.
Steward Health Care announced on Friday that it plans to close Carney Hospital in Dorchester in addition to another hospital in Ayer, MA.
“Over the past several months, Steward Health Care has been actively working to sell or transition all its Massachusetts hospitals and we are in active final negotiations to sell six of them,” the company said in a statement. “Despite the extensive sale process, which involved close coordination with lenders and regulators, there were no qualified bids for two hospitals, Carney Hospital and Nashoba Valley Medical Center, and, unfortunately, they will be closing.”
The Carney opened 160 years ago, originally in South Boston, with a grant from Andrew Carnegie and a mission to treat returning Civil War veterans.
Now in Dorchester, the hospital treats a diverse array of patients in the area, speaking Spanish, Creole, and Vietnamese and it’s closure is expected to hit the community hard.
According to State House News, State law and regulations require any provider planning to close an essential service to notify the Department of Public Health at least 120 days in advance and then provide a formal notice 90 days before the planned closure. It is now clear yet, when the Carney would close but the end of August comports with the state’s requirements.
Nashoba Valley Medical Center is also slated to close.
You can read more here.
Maureen Dahill is the editor of Caught in Southie and a lifelong resident of South Boston sometimes mistaken for a yuppie. Co-host of Caught Up, storyteller, lover of red wine and binge watching TV series. Mrs. Peter G. Follow her @MaureenCaught.