Financially Ailing Memorial Hospital In Pawtucket To Shut ER, Inpatient Services

Memorial Hospital is closing all but some walk-in clinics after its planned sale to a California hospital chain fell through.

Hospital officials announced the decision on Tuesday at a noon meeting with hundreds of employees.

The hospital's parent company, Care New England, said it plans to shut down emergency services and in-patient units, after the failure of a proposed sale to Prime Healthcare Foundation. In a statement, the company blamed chronic financial losses for the closure.

Exiting the all-staff meeting, one employee told RIPR that hospital officials said 700 people work for Memorial Hospital, and "most" would keep their jobs. She expressed incredulity at that suggestion.

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