Leonard Morse Closure: Public Hearing Set For March

NATICK, MA — The public will get a chance to weigh in on a proposal to effectively close Natick's Leonard Morse Hospital and turn it into center for only behavioral health.

In January, MetroWest Medical Center parent Tenet Health notified the state Department of Public Health about a plan to radically change services offered at both Leonard Morse and Framingham Union hospitals.

Under the proposal, Leonard Morse would close its emergency room and intensive care unit, and stop offering surgery. Those services would shift to Framingham Union.

Leonard Morse would become "a unique behavioral health specialty center dedicated to the mental health of our community for child, adolescent, adult and geriatric psychiatric care," MetroWest Medical Center CEO Andrew Harding said in January.

The Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) has opposed the idea, saying it will lead to reduced medical care in the Natick area.

"This will no doubt result in longer wait times for patients in the Framingham Union emergency department and in dangerous delays for patients in need of ICU and inpatient care," MNA spokesman David Schildmeier said in a statement.

Dallas-based Tenet is required to hold a public hearing on the change before DPH can approve it. The public hearing will happen on March 18 at 6 p.m. at the Wilson Middle School auditorium, 22 Rutledge Road, Natick. If approved, the Leonard Morse closure could happen within 60 days of the public hearing.

Tenet also owns St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester and a number of other medical facilities across Massachusetts.