Home / Health / Nurses Fight Burn Unit Relocation
Nurses Fight Burn Unit Relocation
26 Nov
Summary
- Nurses oppose relocating BWH burn unit to MGH campus.
- Union contract protects nurses from forced transfers.
- Mass General Brigham plans burn center unification by 2026.
Nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) are voicing strong opposition to Mass General Brigham's decision to consolidate the hospital's burn unit with that of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). The union representing BWH nurses, the Massachusetts Nurses Association, stated that the move is detrimental to both patients and nurses, emphasizing the specialized skills and experience of BWH staff.
The health system, Mass General Brigham, asserts that unifying the burn units at MGH will foster deeper collaboration, reduce duplication, and advance treatment standards. They anticipate the new, unified Mass General Brigham Burn Program to launch by 2026, following a required 120-day review by the Department of Public Health.
Concerns have been raised by nurses regarding the potential loss of institutional knowledge at BWH. However, Mass General Brigham assures that all nurses will retain their roles and that the unit will continue to serve trauma patients. The nurses' union contract includes strong job protections, pension, and health benefits, which they believe will encourage most nurses to remain at BWH.
