Concord
In separate statements released after the meeting in Sununu’s Statehouse office, both termed the session “productive.”
“We were able to discuss a variety of issues, clear the air, and work on a viable pathway to building a positive relationship for the future,” Sununu said. “We’ve agreed to meet again with our larger teams next week to work out a plan to move forward and ensure better communication. Today was a great first step to rebuilding an important relationship for our state and our citizens.”
Sununu’s tone, akin to statements he made last week on New Hampshire Public Radio, were a turnaround from the tension that developed on May 3, when the first-term governor called indications that D-H was understaffing NHH “deeply disturbing and troubling” and said the organization “at this point isn’t trustworthy.”
Dartmouth-Hitchcock officials said they have been transparent in their efforts to staff the state’s psychiatric hospital in Concord with 11 full-time equivalent psychiatrists and one geriatric psychiatrist, as called for under the terms of a $36.6 million contract that began last fall.
In his statement, Weinstein said he and Sununu “had a candid and productive discussion regarding the misconceptions about Dartmouth-Hitchcock’s contract to provide clinical services at New Hampshire Hospital.”
“I look forward to building on the progress we made today, working with the state to provide the best possible patient-centered and compassionate care for those suffering from mental illness and substance abuse. The governor and I agree that our patients, families, and the citizens of New Hampshire deserve nothing less,” Weinstein said.