Local nurses took their concerns over a possible merger between Dignity Health hospitals and Catholic Health Initiatives to a hearing with the state Attorney General’s office in southwest Bakersfield.

Those represented by the California Association of Nurses worried facilities will close, jobs will be lost, and access to services cut off, especially reproductive health options for women.

But Dignity Health Senior Vice President Jon Van Boening also testified at Tuesday’s hearing and said there will be no job cuts or loss of services, and that the merger will allow them to upgrade technology and offer more care to more people.

Kelli Pierce