Contra Costa Health nurses demand County Board of Supervisors prevent drastic budget cuts, stop imminent cuts to services

February 18, 2026 - 00:27

Registered Nurses are taking their fight to the streets, planning a picket at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center in Martinez this Thursday. The action is a direct response to proposed county budget cuts that healthcare professionals warn will critically undermine the local health system.

The nurses, backed by their union, are demanding the County Board of Supervisors intervene to prevent drastic funding reductions. Their primary concerns are the preservation of essential patient services and the urgent reversal of cuts to the Enhanced Care Management program. This program is a vital lifeline for the county's most vulnerable residents, including seniors and those with complex chronic conditions, providing coordinated care to keep them healthy and out of the hospital.

Protesters argue that slashing such programs is short-sighted and dangerous, ultimately leading to worse health outcomes and higher long-term costs for the county. They are calling on hospital and county leaders to re-evaluate budget priorities and redirect funding to safeguard frontline care. The picket signals a significant escalation in efforts to protect community health resources from what nurses describe as a damaging dismantling of services that thousands of residents depend upon.