With news of Harborlights closing its doors, State Rep. Nick Collins calls for a hearing by the Department of Public Health. Harborlights is located at 807 East Seventh Street. Collins hopes to ban together and find another operator take over the facility. See press release below:
BOSTON – Representative Nick Collins has called for a hearing to be held by the Department of Public Health on the proposed closing of the Harborlights nursing and rehabilitation facility run by Kindred Healthcare. On December 1, 2017, Kindred notified the DPH, as well as staff and patients at their 6 facilities across Massachusetts that they intend to close all the facilities by the end of the first quarter in 2018.
Under DPH regulations, any nursing facility in Massachusetts seeking to close must go through a comprehensive public process that includes a hearing where the proponent has to explain their reasons for closure. Rep. Collins called for the hearing to be held in the South Boston community so that residents and families of patients impacted by this proposed closure can have their voices be heard.
“Like many people in the communities I represent, I’ve had family treated at Harborlights” said Rep. Collins. “I’m opposed to this closure and will be seeking a delay so we can find a way to preserve these critical services for our neighborhood. It’s important not just to South Boston but our regional health care system.”
A similar situation took place in the North End in 2016 when the Spaulding Rehabilitation Facility was seeking closure. A stay was ordered and with public pressure from community as well state and city officials, the process resulted in a new operator, Marquis Health Services, taking over the facility.
“When the community banded together and spoke with one voice, they were successful in having a new operator take over. We need to do the same thing. It’s going to take everyone getting involved in this, and that’s why it is so important to have this hearing in close proximity to the people that are most affected,” Rep. Collins said.
Tumultuous times these days are for Healthcare, hope those there aren’t displaced.