Vets speak out on health care
Stock image By Erica Rush, KCBY NewsNORTH BEND, Ore. -After fighting for our country, local veterans are now fighting for adequate health care. MultimediaU.S. Senator Ron Wyden took heed of the situation, concerning proposed cuts to services at the VA Hospital in Roseburg. On Tuesday, he addressed these issues with Vets along Southern Oregon. Joined by a panel of Veterans and VA Administrators, Senator Wyden took in dozens of verbal testimony at the North Bend Community Center, concerning health care, or lack there of. The closest VA Hospital is in Roseburg. Speaking there earlier in the day, Wyden said the main difference heard here on the Coast is that vets here, want more options for medical providers and treatment facilities to choose from. "There is no question that the challenge of serving rural Veterans is appreciably bigger on the South Coast because you've got folks having to travel big distances," said Wyden. He added, "Certainly if you're talking about a veteran with an emergency situation, even a few minutes can almost be life and death." Aside from treatment options, local vets accounted countless VA issues that hindered their treatment, from medication down to the telephone. That's why Wyden says he, Congressman Peter DeFazio and the Veteran's Integrated Service Network are working together to establish a moratorium and stop any further reduction of services to veterans. "At the end of the day, our Veterans ought to have care that's non-negotiable, it's good quality, it's accessible and we're going to stay at it until we have it." Wyden says his concern for veterans care is ever growing as thousands more will soon be heading back to Oregon from Iraq and Afghanistan. |
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