Hospital Accountability
Health is a right, not a privilege.
The Naugatuck Valley Project’s healthcare justice work has primarily focused on the 2016 sale of Waterbury Hospital to for-profit Prospect Medical Holdings and the subsequent impact of this sale on our community’s workers AND patients. Prospect Medical Holdings has profited from tax breaks and cut corners while patients and workers have suffered.
Our campaign sought to hold the hospital owners accountable and ensure our community hospital truly served our community’s needs.
We are excited to share that after an extended lawsuit between Prospect and Yale New Haven Health System, we won!
As of March 1, 2026 the beleaguered hospital has officially become UConn Health Waterbury Hospital, part of the UConn Health Community Network.
NVP President Eddie Gadomski and Senator Saud Anwar (Public Health Committee Chairperson) attend the ribbon cutting ceremony for UConn Health Waterbury Hospital on Wednesday March 4, 2026.
We were able to accomplish this thanks to our incredible community!
For a deeper understanding of how we accomplished this together, just view the timeline below!
Hospital Accountability Campaign Timeline
2010
LHP (Legacy Health Partners) came to town threatening to buy both Waterbury and St Mary’s Hospitals, close them both down, and build a new hospital. The Naugatuck Valley Project researched and conducted a broad public education campaign.
2013
Vanguard Health Systems and Waterbury Hospital officials were brought before the Board of Aldermen. Some aldermen echoed questions raised by community and union leaders about adequate staffing under a for-profit hospital. VHS backed off. Tennent Healthcare bought Vanguard and the community and union workers stood up and pushed back against the for-profit model of healthcare. Tenet backed off.
2016
Prospect Medical Holdings made an offer to buy Waterbury Hospital. The community and union workers continued a public education and organizing campaign but failed to convince local and start officials about the need for a Community Benefits Agreement.
2017
NVP continues public education and organizing for a Community Benefits Agreement.
2025
NVP meets with Yale LAW School Clinic to get advice on bargaining for the common good (combining community and union power to get a Community Benefits Agreement)
2026
NVP works to set up a meeting with the Attorney General to get a comprehensive audit of public equity in the hospital (local state and federal money). We work with local state Reps to set up a meeting with the Governor to discuss a community ownership model for the Hospital, similar to the Green Bay Packers football team.
March 2026 (We won!)
UConn Health purchases Waterbury Hospital as part of a larger plan to create a network of buying and rehabbing struggling state hospitals!