Health Care protest outside Gov mansion

Hartford (WTNH) - The Health Care Workers Union organized a march at the Governor's Mansion to protest the closing of several hospitals, detox programs and special need facilities because of the budget crunch.

They were joined by family members, of those in the facilities, because they wanted to make the point that the protest is not about losing their jobs. Because, under the state employees give back agreement, they won't.

"They're not worried about losing jobs, because they're not going to lose jobs," said Judi Walters of Waterbury. "They're worried about the quality of care that our family members are going to receive which will go right down the tubes."

Others say the disruptions for patients will be as if they are being removed from their family.

"My daughter has a family, she's happy and now they're going to uproot her life," said Laureen Mantz of Wolcott. "They're human beings not animals and I hope Governor Rell hears this."

These protests are being supplemented by a television ad campaign, like one that says, "Governor Rell wants to shut down High Meadows."

High Meadows is the unique facility in Hamden that treats boys with significant emotional, behavior and complex medical problems.

Governor Rell, who was inspecting state cars to be auctioned off this weekend to save the state money, said the parents should not be concerned.

"We are making sure that no one loses services," said Governor Rell. "They may not get those services at the facility at which they're receiving them now. But everyone will get the services that they are entitled to receive."

The health care providers say that will not happen.

"They'll wind up back out on the street, in our communities, they'll wind up in jail, they'll wind up in the emergency rooms of hospitals," said Bill Meyerson of Health Care Workers Union.

And their argument is that is not only bad for the patients, it will result in even bigger expenses for taxpayers.

The Governor and the State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services says that will not happen.