Northampton VA hospital provides medical, psychiatric care, substance abuse counseling, treatment of PTSD, nursing home care for elderly veterans, and women services. There are 85 beds for behavior care, 32 nursing care, and 16 substances. Also, they also run 12 Veteran Affairs Departments for Berkshire and Hampshire Counties covering 927 square miles. Northampton VA has affiliations with UMass Medical School as well as schools in dentistry, nursing, psychology, optometry, occupational therapy, social work, pharmacy, etc.
Closure of Northampton VA Hospital would force vets to travel to Boston, West Haven, Connecticut, or Springfield. Traveling to Boston would be 105 miles (two hours of traveling). West Haven is 90 miles (one and half hours). Springfield would be 29 miles (half hour). All this info is based on distance from Cummington. Some veterans have a longer travel time and others less time. Shuttles would be an all-day traveling trip (early morning pick up & drop off evening). Of course getting an appointment at these places takes weeks.
Why are we forcing a very important VA hospital for all these women and men that protected our country to close? This hospital was built in 1923 and has recently done many updates and remodeling of the buildings. Soldier On has built many model houses.
I am speaking for my 100% disabled veteran husband that has passed away but got the best care during his declining health at the Northampton VA hospital for over 40 years. Also, I know many veterans that use this important hospital. Please fight this closing. Contact your representatives, governor and president now!
Mrs. Rosemary Seifert-Graf
Cummington