THE closure of two Massachusetts hospitals today will “create hospital deserts and exacerbate health inequities in the communities they serve,” health workers’ union 1199SEIU has warned.

Nashoba Valley Medical Centre in Ayer and Carney Hospital in Boston are closing their doors despite a campaign by staff and patients to keep them open, with workers blaming corporate greed by Dallas-based company Steward Health Care. Over 1,200 staff are affected.

Steward founder and chief executive Ralph de la Torre faces lawsuits linked to the firm’s collapse, with accusations that he extracted more than $100 million (£76m) ahead of filing for bankruptcy in May.