Concord
Councilor Chris Sununu, of Newfields, N.H., who is also the Republican gubernatorial nominee, said he had serious concerns about the hospital’s trustworthiness after state officials found out about Dartmouth-Hitchcock’s layoffs from the newspaper. News of the layoffs broke just two days after the council approved its contract with Dartmouth-Hitchcock to staff the state psychiatric hospital.
“I still believe we need to extend their contract and rebid it,” Sununu said. “I don’t believe we have done our job as a state to make sure we have choices.”
At a Wednesday morning meeting, Sununu, his fellow councilors and Gov. Maggie Hassan all questioned Dartmouth-Hitchcock CEO James Weinstein about what he knew about the layoffs — and when they would occur.
“There’s nothing we’ve hidden from you,” Weinstein said. “There was no intent in deceiving this committee.”
But when pressed for details about Dartmouth-Hitchcock layoffs, Weinstein admitted he didn’t have many. He repeatedly assured councilors New Hampshire Hospital would not be affected, and said he accepted blame for the economic shortfall that precipitated the layoffs.
“We haven’t finished planning,” Weinstein said. “I’ll tell you more when I know, but it wasn’t related to this contract.”
Hassan and the Executive Council spent much of their time talking to Weinstein and state health officials about staffing levels at New Hampshire Hospital, which is in the midst of its own restructuring.
By staffing New Hampshire Hospital for the next three years, Dartmouth-Hitchcock took over an agreement long held by Dartmouth College.
The transition has proved controversial, sparking a labor dispute that caused nearly a dozen New Hampshire Hospital psychiatric staff to depart in July.
A few days ago, the hospital’s chief medical officer, David Folks, announced he will leave in January. Officials said they are starting the search for his replacement.
There are currently 24 psychiatrists and nurses caring for patients at the hospital. Dartmouth-Hitchcock officials said they have hired additional medical staff and will have 34 people working at the hospital by Nov. 1.
Executive Councilor Colin Van Ostern, who is also the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, stopped short of calling for a rebid contract, but said “there has been some breakdown in trust and commitment” between the state and Dartmouth-Hitchcock.
“I think this contract provides an important way to improve care, but I will say that if they are not meeting it today or in the future, we need to be prepared with alternatives,” he said.
Sununu ultimately did not make a motion to rescind the state’s contract with Dartmouth-Hitchcock, criticizing Hassan and Health and Human Services Commissioner Jeff Meyers for their unwillingness to do so.
“I keep calling for it,” he said. “They don’t want to do it.” Sununu reiterated his belief that the state’s bidding process doesn’t allow for enough choice and said he would like to see that changed.
Meyers told Sununu that while he was also concerned about the lack of communication from Dartmouth-Hitchcock in recent weeks, he did not believe starting from scratch was the way to go.