Quote:
Originally Posted by BarryRX
I was told that they have over 2000 people on the waiting list and that they are severely understaffed. I have written my local congressman and he says they are aware of the problem. I have also spoken to the VA Liaison to the congressman here in the villages and got the same reply. Since I am a retired pharmacist, I offered to volunteer my services in the pharmacy, but they said that was the one department where they are fully staffed. The clinic did assure me that if you need to be seen in an emergency they would get you in. That of course includes any type of mental health emergency as well as physical emergency. I am wondering if the understaffing is something that could be addressed at one of the veterans groups like Vietnam Vets or the Marine Corps League? Perhaps the final answer will be that there is only so much money to go around, and that until things improve we always have the VA in Gainsville.
I already volunteer at the villages hospital, but would be willing to volunteer at the clinic if it would help my fellow vets and I am sure there are plenty of others like me around. Maybe we should meet somewhere for a beer and talk about what we could do to be part of the solution.
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It is a national problem especially in the mental health areas of the VA. Good article in the Village Sun today on the front page. There was also an article in USA Today a few weeks ago stating the same things.