Statement from Governor Hassan on Executive Council Approval of Contract for Nurses at New Hampshire Hospital

Press Release

Governor Maggie Hassan issued the following statement after the Executive Council's bipartisan vote today to approve a contract for nurses at New Hampshire Hospital, including for the new 10-bed crisis unit:

"The health care workforce shortage facing our state and our nation threatens our ability to meet the health care needs of our citizens. At New Hampshire Hospital, this challenge has led to mandatory overtime that strains our nurses and prevented us from staffing the new crisis unit that we worked together to construct through our bipartisan budget. Earlier this year, we approved pay raises for nurses at New Hampshire Hospital, and this contract will help build on those efforts.

"The contract approved in today's bipartisan vote by the Executive Council will allow the hospital to hire more nurses to fill vacant positions, reduce overtime that places undue strains on those providing this critical care, and allow us to open the new crisis unit this summer. While today's vote is an important step forward, we know that there is still more work to do to address this shortage not just at New Hampshire Hospital but statewide so that we can meet the health care needs of all Granite Staters."

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