AYER, Mass. 鈥� In a letter to Gov. Maura Healey, 13 fire chiefs from Nashoba Valley urged the approval of nearly $10 million in funding to prevent the collapse of the region鈥檚 emergency medical response system.
The letter stated that without $9.6 million in funding, 150,000 people in the area could stand to lose healthcare services following the closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center in August 2024, reported.
鈥淐uts in service could be where people actually feel it,鈥� Littleton Fire Chief Steele McCurdy said. 鈥淲ithout the money to pay for the individuals to staff the ambulances and the fire apparatus that becomes hugely problematic.鈥�
McCurdy said transporting patients to nearby hospitals would take two to three times longer, placing a strain on staffing as personnel spend extended periods on calls and resulting in increased overtime costs to maintain adequate coverage.
Healey stated that she aims to offer recommendations to the chiefs regarding healthcare in the region. She added that her administration is exploring ways to address the additional costs.
The letter was signed by the 13 town fire chiefs, along with town administrators, managers and eight state senators and representatives representing the region.
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