Politicians say plan could eliminate E. 23rd St. Veterans Affairs Hospital

E. 23rd St. Veterans Affairs Hospital

U.S. Senators Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer and Congressmember Carolyn Maloney last week protested a Department of Veterans Affairs program to develop a medical care consolidation plan that could eliminate the V.A. Hospital complex on E. 23rd St. and First Ave.

The V.A. announced on Aug. 4 that it would consider consolidating care at various locations across the country, including moving inpatient care from the hospital on First Ave. to a V.A. hospital in Brooklyn. The consolidation would either keep outpatient and specialty care in Manhattan or move it to Brooklyn or to some other as yet undetermined location.

“I find it ironic that at this time of continued conflict that the Administration wants to close facilities,” said Clinton in a letter to Anthony J. Principi, secretary of Veterans Affairs. “At this critical time in our nation’s history we must show our veterans — not just tell them — that we are grateful for their service to our country,” said Clinton, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Maloney wrote, “At a time when American troops are risking their lives in conflicts around the world, we should not impose the additional burden of reducing services at a hospital where many veterans receive critical medical care.” Congressmembers Jerrold Nadler and Nydia Velazquez signed onto the letter with Maloney.

A spokesperson for the V.A. said the project was intended to restructure medical care to provide better service to more veterans and was in its early stage. Any questions about what would become of the hospital building on 23rd St. are “premature,” the spokesperson said.