Nurses take to picket line in Bucks County amid reports Prime Healthcare is looking to sell hospital

BRISTOL, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- Nurses were on the picket line in Bristol, Bucks County on Friday morning to show their opposition to reports that Prime Healthcare is looking to sell their hospital.

The Action Cam was outside Lower Bucks Hospital for the demonstration.

The nurses are members of the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals.

They've been in contract talks with Prime Healthcare for months and say they received no indication that it was looking to sell the hospital, as well as two others it operates in the area.

A hospital spokesperson shared the following statement with Action News:

At Lower Bucks Hospital and Suburban Community Hospital, we continue to bargain in good faith with the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses & Allied Professionals (PASNAP) leadership to reach an agreement in the best interests of our hospitals, employees, and, most importantly, those we serve. Proposals have been delivered to the union from the hospitals that would increase wages and provide a valuable healthcare plan, maintain important benefits, and be competitive with other hospitals in the market.

It is disappointing that despite progress being made, the union has walked away from negotiations and has chosen to strike, but that will not impact our commitment to providing quality patient care to our communities throughout the holidays and always. Some staff made the decision to put patients first by crossing the picket line. We value all of our employees and their dedication to caring for our community, and we are committed to ensuring a workplace that honors their work and continues to provide lifesaving care for the most vulnerable.

During this time, please know that our hospitals will remain open, and our commitment to providing high-quality care remains our top priority. We are fully staffed with qualified temporary resources across our nursing and non-nursing departments, and we will maintain services and compliance with regulatory standards. As part of our preparations, we continue communicating with our area providers about our contingency plans.

Together with all of our valued caregivers, we look forward to reaching an agreement that rewards our staff while also promoting the delivery of safe, high-quality care to our patients.