Local News

Healey pauses proposed closing of hospitals on South Shore, Cape Cod

After hearing feedback, Gov. Maura Healey has pushed for further review of the facilities.

Governor Maura Healey announces her annual budget plan, during a Massachusetts State House press conference. Pat Greenhouse for the Boston Globe

By Beth Treffeisen

February 25, 2025

2 minutes to read

After pushback from patients, families, and staff regarding the critical roles of the Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children and the Pocasset Mental Health Center, Governor Maura Healey‘s administration is pushing for a pause on the closures of these facilities.

The move follows Healey’s announcement of the closures in January as part of her latest $62 million budget proposal. The administration said closing the two facilities would save the state about $31 million.

In a statement, Healey expressed her gratitude for both the feedback and the Department of Public Health and Department of Mental Health’s work on “ensuring that all patients receive the high-quality, modernized, specialized care they need and deserve.”

The Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children

Healey has directed the offices to pause their plans to close the Pappas and Pocasset facilities and to convene a group of stakeholders, including patients, families, labor, local officials, and medical professionals, to conduct further review and make recommendations on the best path forward.

The administration initially cited Pappas’s aging and inadequate infrastructure and the fact that it only has 36 patients, half of whom are over 18 and can move into an adult facility, as reasons to close the facility.

Pappas provides medical, rehabilitative, educational, recreational, and alternative medical services to children and young adults and is located on 160 acres in Canton, which includes horses, an accessible swimming pool, and waterfront access.

The Pappas patients would have transferred to a new specialty unit at Western Massachusetts Hospital in Westfield, if the facility’s closure moved forward.

Union representatives blasted the administration for these moves at the time. SEIU 509 President Dave Foley said that 170 mental health workers could lose their jobs.

“This announcement marks significant progress in this fight — and we know it is not the end of it,” said Dave Foley, SEIU 509 President, in a statement. “We cannot lose sight of the ongoing threat to mental health services.”

“Case management services are a lifeline to individuals who rely on this support for stability, health, and safety,” he continued. “These cuts threaten to destabilize a crucial part of our mental health care system, and we cannot let that happen.”

The Massachusetts Nurses Association also noted that Western Massachusetts Hospital is already 90% full and does not offer the specialized services that can be found at Pappas.

The Pocasset Mental Health Center

The Pocasset Mental Health Center is Cape Cod’s only state-run psychiatric facility and one of two inpatient psychiatric units. According to Barnstable Commissioners, it operates at full capacity nearly every day.

Joe Pacheco, director of human services for Barnstable County, said the closure would force more patients off the Cape, further straining families, first responders, and emergency departments.

“The behavioral health system is already strained, as we should not be talking about closing and eliminating vital community services such as the Pocasset Mental Health Center,” said Pacheco in a statement. “We should be talking about its potential expansion.”

The Massachusetts Nurses Association said they are “grateful” that the governor has heard their concerns.

The association said it will remain committed to preserving the services offered at these two facilities and ensuring that the proper investments are made to enhance them for years to come.

“We are committed to working with others in this process and will continue to advocate for the long term investment in our mental health resources and infrastructure,” the association said in a statement.

David Schildmeire, a spokesperson for the association, said a rally and media event to meet with lawmakers about closing or consolidating the hospitals, scheduled Tuesday at the Statehouse, continued as planned.