Massachusetts Nurses Association Endorses State Representative Natalie Higgins in Re-election for 4th Worcester District

For Immediate Release                                                        
Contact: Joe Markman, 781-571-8175, Natalie Higgins, 978-602-3772
Date:  October 26, 2018                                                                                      

MASSACHUSETTS NURSES ASSOCIATION ENDORSES STATE REPRESENTATIVE NATALIE HIGGINS IN RE-ELECTION FOR 4th WORCESTER DISTRICT
The Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), the state’s largest union and professional association for registered nurses and health care professionals, announces its endorsement of State Representative Natalie Higgins in her bid to retain her seat in the 4th Worcester District.
“Since her election to the legislature in 2016, Natalie has worked closely with the MNA and nurses in her district to stand up for patient safety and stand against those who seek to put profits ahead of patients,” said Donna Kelly-Williams, RN and president of the MNA. “The MNA is thrilled to announce our support for her reelection campaign and we look forward to continuing our close working relationship when she returns to Beacon Hill”.
Representative Higgins had the MNA’s support when she first ran in 2016 and has been a champion for health care access while serving in the state legislature. This spring, she fought to tie new funding for community hospitals to those hospitals maintaining essential health services. Representative Higgins recently joined several of her colleagues in speaking out against the closure of UMass Memorial HealthAlliance Clinton Hospital’s Burbank Urgent Care Center and Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehab services on the Leominster Hospital Campus, and also the elimination of the inpatient pediatric beds at the Leominster campus.  Hospital administrators opted to close the beds despite that pediatric services there were deemed essential by the state’s Department of Public Health.
Higgins is also a vocal advocate for Yes on Question 1 on the November ballot which would set a safe limit on the number of patients a nurse can care for at one time in acute care hospitals.
“As a State Representative from a gateway city with a community hospital, I am deeply concerned about my community’s access to healthcare services,” said Higgins. “I am proud to stand with my local nurses and the MNA to fight for essential services to remain in our community and for safe patient limits at all of our hospitals across the Commonwealth.”
Higgins currently serves on Joint Committee on Higher Education, the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses, the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery, and the House Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs and Technology.
The 4th Worcester legislative district consists of the City of Leominster.
###