Nurses from Berkshire Medical Center are planning an informational picket next week claiming the Pittsfield hospital is not properly staffed for a 20 percent patient increase following the closure of North Adams Regional Hospital. BMC is refuting the claims saying the increase is closer to 10 percent. Members of the Massachusetts Nurses Association which represents the majority of the roughly 650 registered nurses at BMC will picket outside the hospital Dec. 10th, according to union spokesman David Schildmeier.
“Pressure by management to move patients through the system faster without the support and resources they need to deliver safe patient care,” said Schildmeier.
Hospital spokesman Michael Leary denied the MNA’s claims that BMC is breaking a recently passed law regarding nurse to patient ratios in intensive care units.
“We absolutely, emphatically deny any claims that we are not in compliance with the ICU staffing law,” said Leary.
Leary says 25 registered nurses have been hired to work at BMC in recent months.
The picket is scheduled to go from 2 to 5 p.m. Dec. 10th at BMC.
