Congressman John F. Tierney -- Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, October 1, 2003

Tierney Convenes Meeting with Veterans Secretary Principi Presses Him on the Status of Inpatient Services at the Bedford VA Hospital

Congressman John F. Tierney and VA Secretary Anthony Principi

Washington, DC- Today, during a meeting he organized with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Anthony Principi, U.S. Congressman John F. Tierney (D-Salem) expressed his concern with the draft Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) plan that would transfer most inpatient services from the Bedford VA Hospital to other facilities in Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire.

"After the August hearing in Billerica, when over 500 affected families, advocates, VA professionals, and veterans voiced their concerns over the proposed transfer of inpatient services from Bedford to other facilities in Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire, I wanted Secretary Principi to be aware of just how the draft CARES plan would dramatically impact citizens in the 6th District and all over New England," said Tierney.

"It is critical for the Secretary to get a sense of Bedford's value to the region, to understand that their work related to Alzheimer's research is nationally respected and valued" Tierney said. "This draft proposal is unfair to those veterans that depend on such a respected around-the-clock facility to be arbitrarily shuffled to an unfamiliar eight-hour-a-day hospital, possibly, many miles from where they live."

"I expressed my concern to the Secretary that, in addition to the direct impact to the Bedford hospital, the three other facilities designated to absorb Bedford's inpatient services are already overburdened and potentially unable to accommodate additional patients without sacrificing the quality of care." Tierney said.

"The Secretary indicated that no final decisions have been made on the draft plan, and that he was sensitive to the implications of CARES." Tierney said. "Over the course of the next few months, the Secretary pledged to work with Members of Congress from New England to ensure the best possible care for our nation's veterans."

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