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Pawtucket and Central Falls Request Department of Health Move Forward with Memorial Hospital Plans

Pawtucket and Central Falls Request Department of Health Move Forward with Memorial Hospital Plans

PAWTUCKET – Today, Mayor Donald R. Grebien and Central Falls Mayor James Diossa requested that the Rhode Island Department of Health continue to move forward with the conditions that they placed upon Care New England to ensure health care services remain in the community and residents have access.

The Mayors requested an update on the implementation of the conditions, including: the opening of a walk-in clinic; details for constituents regarding the transportation plans and Family Care and Internal Medicine Centers; and the hiring of an independent consultant. In addition, the conditions placed upon Care New England required the convening of a stakeholder group to touch upon these issues in addition to exploring and proposing immediate innovative solutions and/or pilot programs to lessen the impact of the closure of the hospital’s emergency department on the impacted communities.

“Our residents, health care providers and elected officials, made it abundantly clear how critical it was for our community to have access to health care services locally and the hardship any reduction or closure would put on their already stressful conditions,” said Mayor Grebien. “The Department of Health took these issues seriously and imposed conditions that will keep primary and urgent care here in Pawtucket. We are eager to see these plans move forward immediately.”

“Access to health in Central Falls and Pawtucket has always been and will continue to be our main priority throughout the Memorial Hospital process. The Department of Health did the right thing by listening to our residents,” stated Mayor Diossa. “It is important that the conditions that were placed are followed through and that the residents of our cities are informed as soon and as frequently as possible.”

On December 28, 2017, the Department of Health approved Care New England’s request to close Memorial Hospital’s emergency room.  The Mayors, the Pawtucket and Central Falls Delegation, and the City Councils have been working with the Department and the Governor to preserve the health care services provided at the existing hospital and address the long-term needs and impact to our communities.

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