Veterans decry closing of clinic

[unhappycamper]

Veterans decry closing of clinic
By Brian MacQuarrie
Globe Staff / December 26, 2009

HOLYOKE - Paul Maywald, a Cold War veteran who served on the Czech border in the 1950s, has bum knees, bad hearing, and an enlarged prostate. Now, he has a new worry: Maywald and 2,200 other veterans can no longer visit the outpatient clinic at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home.

Governor Deval Patrick’s decision to close the clinic, which provides medical care with no out-of-pocket costs, has outraged the staff, thrown state officials on the defensive, and upset veterans who must find an alternative to a place they cherish for its comfort and camaraderie.

“This is our home, the Soldiers’ Home,’’ said Maywald, 72, of Granby, as he waited to see a doctor at the clinic. “Now, I’ll have to look around and find someone to take me on with all my problems.’’

State officials say the closing makes unfortunate economic sense at a time when budget efficiencies must be found everywhere. But nurses and veterans at the clinic, perched on a hill with a spectacular view of the Connecticut River Valley, say the $555,000 annual savings is a paltry slice of the Massachusetts budget and a slap in the face to veterans, many of them elderly, who deserve the accessibility of this care.

“I think somehow the state has misunderstood what this clinic is about,’’ said Elaine Peetz, the supervisor. “I don’t know where you get this care somewhere else.’’


Rest of article at: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/12/26/closing_of_holyoke_soldiers_home_clinic_seen_as_callous_move/



unhappycamper comment: This is what happens when you use all available money to keep two occupations going. One trillion dollars a year. Every fucking year.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

1. So wrong

and one more reason for action.

Peace of the Action.

http://peaceoftheaction.org/

Thinking of you this holiday season UHC!

[unhappycamper]

2. Thanks PVD.

Happy Holidays to you and J. :hi: :hug:

[Submariner]

3. Deval Patrick is an incompetent piece of crap

that was mistakenly elected Governor of MA. He can kiss his re-election goodbye.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

4. Would love to see a progressive challenger to Deval

I'd be there in a second.

[customerserviceguy]

5. I read the article

and did not see anything in there about Federal support of this facility, but I presume there has to be some. I don't see how you would run an outpatient clinic that serves over 2,200 people on a mere half million these days. That's less money than the house across the street from this place would cost, even in a down real estate market.

I assume there is some sort of Federal funding, perhaps it needs to be increased to keep this place going. Like I said, the amount of money involved is not a huge amount for this sort of thing. Corporate sponsorship might be an option as well; for a half million dollars, the "Gillette Holyoke Soldiers Home" would buy a lot of goodwill across this country.