State Rep. Margaret Scarsdale, D-Pepperell, announced today that the Nashoba Valley Working Group, established by the governor in October and of which she is a member, has formed a specialized subgroup to focus specifically on restoring emergency services and ancillary care to the 16 communities in North Central Massachusetts, including Harvard and Devens, left without an emergency room and other facilities when Nashoba Valley Medical Center closed abruptly in August.
Scarsdale and Ayer Town Manager Robert Pontbriand have been named co-chairs of the subgroup. The work of the nine-member committee will include assessing the needs of the region, proposing ways to bring back and sustain the services that were lost when NVMC closed, and identifying sources of money to support those efforts.
“I am honored to co-chair this subgroup to ensure our communities regain access to the health care they need and deserve,” said Scarsdale in a press release issued by her office Monday morning, Dec. 9. “Restoring services at our community hospital [the former Nashoba Valley Medical Center] remains a top priority for me, and every day Nashoba remains closed is another day without access to its lifesaving care across our region."
Pontbriand, who is also co-chair of the parent working group, echoed Scarsdale’s remarks, emphasizing the importance of collaboration. “This subgroup will focus on developing recommendations to restore emergency and health care services in the Nashoba Valley. Working together, we remain committed to sustainable solutions for our communities,” he said.
In addition to Scarsdale and Pontbriand, the other seven members are Ayer Fire Chief Timothy Johnston, Littleton Fire Chief Steele McCurdy, Audra Sprague of the Massachusetts Nurses Association, Dr. Amjad Husain, Dr. Stephany Godfrey, Maria Syrniotis of Congresswoman Lori Trahan’s office, and Sarah Graham of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
