Baystate Health plan to close Mary Lane Outpatient Center in Ware criticized at hearing
Updated Apr 01, 2021;
WARE Legislators urged state regulators during a hearing on Thursday to closely scrutinize data submitted by Baystate Health to justify closing its Mary Lane Outpatient Center.
The state Department of Public Health, which convened the “essential services” hearing, said it would render a decision on the proposed closing in 15 days. The agency says on its website, however, that it cannot legally require a hospital to remain open, though it does work to ensure community impacts from the closing are minimized.
A New Braintree man in his 30s would have bled to death had he not been rushed to the Mary Lane emergency department, his mother said during the hearing while choking back tears.
Baystate Health’s plans to close Mary Lane Outpatient Center in Ware rankles local, state officials
Updated Jan 27, 2021;
Posted Jan 27, 2021
Baystate Health plans to close the emergency department at Mary Lane Outpatient Center by June and shutter the entire facility in two years. (Don Treeger / The Republican)
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Baystate plans to close the emergency department by June and shutter the facility completely within two years.
“I’m just livid,” said state Sen. Anne M. Gobi, D-Spencer, whose district includes Ware and surrounding communities.
“Completely blindsided by it,” she said in an interview, adding: “They’ve never been shy about reaching out to legislators if there is a need.”