Petition to keep Tufts Children’s Hospital afloat garners 30,000 signatures

A Change.org petition to “Save Tufts Children’s Hospital in Boston!” has garnered over 30,000 signatures from concerned parents, staff, and other worried about the future of the hospital, which is set to close this July.

“It’s 41 beds in one hospital, and they have multiple, multiple hospitals, these guys, and multiple multiple sources of revenue,” said Tim O’Connell, who wrote the petition, of parent company Wellforce. “To go after a tiny 41-bedroom unit that takes care of kids — that should not be on the table.”

O’Connell, who runs a nonprofit inn in Cape Cod for children fighting cancer and their families, said he wasn’t expecting as many signatures as he’s gotten, but said he’s “disappointed” he hasn’t gotten any official response from the hospital higher-ups.

“One way or another, they’re going to have to pay attention because you’re talking about mothers protecting their most valuable prized possession, and that’s their children,” he said.

Although Ken Beane, Jr., who was treated there for 25 years as a cystic fibrosis patient, signed the petition, “I don’t really have much hope a million signatures is going to make much of a difference at this point, unfortunately,” he said.

“We’re kind of the underdog here trying to find a voice against a lot of big names, a lot of big business, I think is really what it comes down to,” said Tara Forrest, whose daughter is being treated for cancer at Tufts. “Whether (the petition) makes a difference in the end, I have no idea. But I think it’s important that people know how we feel about it.”

A Tufts Children’s spokesperson declined to comment on the upcoming closure process, which has to be approved by the state Department of Public Health. A Boston Children’s spokesperson also declined to comment on the matter. The larger hospital is set to absorb Tufts Children’s patients.

A Department of Public Health spokesperson said that the state has not received any official filings from Tufts regarding its closure, but it has until 90 days prior to the anticipated July 1 closure date to provide formal notice. After that, the state will hold a public hearing at least 60 days prior to the closure.