Patients already impacted by Brigham and Women's nurses strike

BOSTON — As a nurses’ strike looms, Brigham and Women's Hospital is canceling upcoming appointments and treatments for some patients.

FOX25's Kerry Kavanaugh spoke with one patient who gets treatments at the Brigham's Pain Management Center in Chestnut Hill.

She said not only is her appointment for next Friday canceled, she can't get another appointment until September.

"I got a phone call about two days ago and they informed me that due to the nurses being on strike, that my treatments will not be offered,” Lindsey Bezanson said.

Lindsey has struggled with a chronic pain condition since she was 14 and suffered a broken hip. She said it left her in a wheelchair for months at a time and at one point she had to learn to walk all over again.

“The Brigham started some treatments for me about four years ago called Lidocaine infusions,” she said. "They really benefit me. I can use my arm and my leg."

The treatment has allowed Lindsey to work full time, but she’s worried what will happen after such a long break between treatments.

"I'm at a loss for words for how you cannot offer the treatment to your patients as a hospital,” she said.

FOX25 asked the hospital about Lindsey's canceled appointment, and a spokesperson said they are notifying all patients if appointments and procedures need to be rescheduled due to the strike.

"The Pain Management Center is assessing the scheduling impact and will reschedule patients whose appointments need to be changed as quickly as possible," the hospital said. Read the full statement below.

FOX25 also contacted the nurses' union which said, in part, "They are ready to return to caring for their patients Tuesday morning. Nurses are fighting at the bargaining table for their patients." Read the full statement below.

As for Bezanson, she thinks the hospital should find a way to get her treated sooner.

"It's so frustrating that they're shutting the door on me,” she said.

Negotiations to prevent the strike, which set to begin on Monday, are expected to continue, but Lindsey said her appointment is canceled either way.

Full statement from Brigham and Women's Hospital.

<em>"In the event of a strike on June 27, some patient appointments and procedures may be impacted, and those patients are being notified if a scheduled appointment needs to be changed.  </em>

<em>The Pain Management Center is assessing the scheduling impact and will reschedule patients whose appointments need to be changed as quickly as possible. Most patients who have regular treatments usually have more than one appointment scheduled at a time,  and we expect that the Pain Management Center will be able to see patients in advance of their next currently scheduled appointment.</em>

<em>Delivering high quality, competent and safe care to our patients and their families remains the top priority of hospital leadership, nursing management and the entire BWH community."  </em>

Full statement from the nurse's union.

<em>"It is solely the hospital's decision to jeopardize safe patient care for five days. The 3,300 Brigham nurses are prepared to strike for 24 hours starting at 7 a.m. Monday in protest of the hospital and Partners HealthCare valuing profits over safe patient care. </em>

<em>They are ready to return to caring for their patients Tuesday morning. Nurses are fighting at the bargaining table for their patients. Nurse staffing cuts to a critical thoracic step-down unit are an example of how the hospital and Partners value profit margins more than safe patient care. Nurses want to protect the Brigham Way of excellent and safe patient care. </em>

<em>The hospital and Partners are eroding that tradition. That is why nurses are prepared to strike. If the hospital locks out nurses for four additional days, endangering patients by hiring mercenary nurses who are not as specialized and well-trained as Brigham nurses, that is solely the hospital's decision."</em>

Cox Media Group