Patients concerned over looming Lifespan nurses strike

By John Krinjak

Email: jkrinjak@abc6.com

Twitter: @johnkrinjakABC6

CRANSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — For 81-year-old Luke Sepe, Monday morning can’t come soon enough.

"I’m having my right hip replaced, which is in bad shape," said Sepe. "I can’t walk. I’ve got to take either this or a walker, you know?"

But then he heard that was the day nurses at Rhode Island Hospital–where he’s having the surgery–and Hasbro Children’s will likely hit the picket lines.

"I was so worried that my appointment was going to be postponed until this is straightened out. I said oh no, I want this thing done," said Sepe. 

His concern is valid. Lifespan, which owns the hospitals, tells us some elective surgeries and appointments next week have already been postponed due to the expected drop in staffing.

"We’re preparing for it, and we want people to know we’ll be here to serve them should they want to come to any of our hospitals," said Care New England communications director Jim Beardsworth.

Lifespan’s competitors like Care New England are beefing up their staffing, as they anticipate a spike in new patients.

"Our staff, who may be off or on standby or call-in, will be notified and ready to go so that as a potential surge in patients increases, we’ll be ready with our existing staff to come in and help support that need," said Beardsworth. 

But it turns out Luke Sepe won’t have to change his plans. His surgery, happening early Monday morning, won’t be affected. But he’s concerned for others with appointments later in the week.

"If my appointment was then, yeah I’d be worried about that. Because you never know what’s going to happen. If they can’t man the operating room, don’t have enough people there, I don’t know. That’s why I’m glad I’m the first one," said Sepe. 

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