If you have surgery, a scan, a delivery or an appointment scheduled at Brigham and Women’s Hospital next week, the nurse who cares for you may not be one of the hospital’s own. About 4,000 Brigham nurses plan to begin an open-ended strike on Wednesday, October 14, unless a deal is reached, and Mass General Brigham says it will bring in between 1,600 and 2,000 temporary nurses to keep the hospital running, NBC10 Boston reported.
The hospital says it will “remain open and ready to provide safe, high-quality care to every patient who depends on us.” Nurses say temporary staff cannot replace them. Here is what patients can expect, who is watching, and the rights every hospital patient in Massachusetts has, strike or no strike.
What the hospital says it will do
- Stay open. MGB has said the Brigham will remain open during the strike, NBC10 reported.
- Temporary nurses. MGB officials said they planned to bring in 1,600 to 2,000 temporary nurses who would work five consecutive 12-hour shifts. During the July work stoppage, the Brigham used about 1,300 temporary nurses, GBH News reported.
- State monitoring. “The Massachusetts Department of Public Health will be on site every day,” said Dr. Paul Biddinger, Mass General Brigham’s chief preparedness and continuity officer, according to NBC10.
- Different schedules. Replacement nurses will be scheduled differently from regular Brigham nurses. “It’s not because we have less care for you or anything like that,” said Dr. Pamela Brown Linzer, an associate chief nurse officer, NBC10 reported.
What nurses say
“We’re letting the patients and families down. And there’s no reason for any of this,” labor and delivery nurse Jen DeVincent told NBC10, blaming hospital leadership. She questioned whether temporary nurses could provide the same level of care. The union says it made concessions on wages, traveler language and other issues, and that MGB ended talks; MGB says both sides moved and it is standing by its latest proposal.
If you have an appointment or procedure
- Do not assume it is canceled. The hospital says it is staying open. Wait to hear from your care team.
- Call ahead. Ask your doctor’s office whether your appointment, test or procedure is going forward, and whether anything about it will change.
- Ask about your nurse. You can ask who is responsible for your care. Massachusetts law gives you that right (below).
- Emergencies are still emergencies. If you have a medical emergency, go to the nearest emergency department or call 911.
Your rights as a hospital patient in Massachusetts
The Massachusetts patients’ bill of rights, G.L. c. 111, § 70E, applies at every licensed hospital, every day, including during a strike. Among other things, every patient has the right:
- “upon request, to obtain from the facility in charge of his care the name and specialty, if any, of the physician or other person responsible for his care or the coordination of his care”;
- “to have all reasonable requests responded to promptly and adequately within the capacity of the facility”;
- “to refuse to be examined, observed, or treated by students or any other facility staff without jeopardizing access to psychiatric, psychological, or other medical care and attention”;
- “to informed consent to the extent provided by law”;
- “to prompt life saving treatment in an emergency without discrimination on account of economic status or source of payment”;
- to inspect and get a copy of their medical records; and
- to confidentiality of records and communications.
The right to refuse treatment by particular staff is worth knowing during a strike, but it comes with practical limits: during a staffing shortage, refusing a nurse may mean waiting. Raise concerns with the charge nurse or the hospital’s patient relations office first.
Where talks stand
Negotiations on October 8 ended after more than 11 hours without a deal, and the two sides were set to return to the table on Saturday, October 10, Boston 25 News reported. Gov. Maura Healey has said MGB “needs to reopen negotiations now,” NBC10 reported. A deal before Wednesday would call off the strike.
Frequently asked questions
Is Brigham and Women’s Hospital open during the nurses strike?
The hospital says it will remain open and plans to use 1,600 to 2,000 temporary nurses. The state Department of Public Health is expected to be on site daily, according to MGB.
Will my appointment at the Brigham be canceled?
Not necessarily. Contact your care team to confirm. The hospital says it plans to continue providing care during the strike.
What rights do hospital patients have in Massachusetts?
Under G.L. c. 111, section 70E, patients have the right to know who is responsible for their care, to informed consent, to have reasonable requests answered promptly, to privacy, to their medical records, to refuse treatment by particular staff, and to emergency treatment regardless of ability to pay.
When does the Brigham strike start?
Wednesday, October 14, 2026, unless the Massachusetts Nurses Association and Mass General Brigham reach an agreement first.
Sources: NBC10 Boston, October 9-10, 2026, quoting Mass General Brigham officials, nurses and a patient; Boston 25 News, October 10, 2026; GBH News, October 2, 2026. G.L. c. 111, section 70E read at malegislature.gov. General information, not medical or legal advice.