MetroWest Medical Center To End Pediatric Care

FRAMINGHAM, MA — The owners of MetroWest Medical Center have notified local officials that Framingham Union Hospital will no longer provide pediatric care by the end of the year. The notification comes as the medical center prepares to transform the Natick Leonard Morse campus into a mental health facility.

According to a letter sent to the Natick Board of Selectmen, the Framingham Union campus will stop offering inpatient pediatric care by the end of November. The hospital will formally file the notice with state officials at the end of August.

"This was a decision that we did not take lightly," MetroWest Medical Center CEO Andrew Harding wrote in a letter to the Natick Board of Selectmen. "We invest our resources and tailor our services in a way that best meets the needs of our patients. AS the need for our current pediatric services is limited, we concluded that the closure of the unit is the best path forward, and we will work to help transition pediatric patients in need of specialized services to other nearby facilities."

Harding's letter says employees affected by the closure may be able to find jobs elsewhere in the MetroWest Medical Center. A spokesperson said Thursday afternoon that the closure will not result in any job losses.

Framingham Union will still offer pediatric emergency care and obstetric care.

MetroWest Medical Center, which includes Framingham Union and Leonard Morse, is owned by Tenet Healthcare. The for-profit company earned about $18.5 billion in 2019, according to filings, but did furlough employees during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.