Leonard Morse ER Closure Could Happen By Fall: Report

NATICK, MA — The closure of the Leonard Morse Hospital emergency room and intensive care unit could happen within about four months, according to the Worcester Business Journal, following a delay caused by coronavirus.

Tenet Healthcare, the owner of the MetroWest Medical Center, which includes Leonard Morse and Framingham Union hospitals, said in January that it would close the Morse ER and ICU, and stop offering surgery at the hospital. Those emergency and surgical services would be consolidated at Framingham Union, and Leonard Morse would turn into a behavioral health facility, according to the company.

The state is requiring Tenet to hold public hearings on the change before moving forward. The first one was scheduled for March 18. However, the service change was delayed due to the need for emergency services during the coronavirus pandemic.

As of Monday, Leonard Morse still had six patients being treated for coronavirus, including one person in the intensive care unit, according to the state Department of Public Health.