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Veterans ride to protest medical center changes
Ben McNeely / bmcneely@independenttribune.com
Ed Keeter and his wife, Connie, head up a line of motorcycle-riding veterans in protest on Saturday at Salisbury Mall.
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Published: October 11, 2008
Salisbury - VA police at the Bill Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury turned away about 30 veterans riding with the motorcycle group Rolling Thunder as they tried to protest changes at the hospital.
Police stopped the motorcycles at the front entrance of the hospital Saturday, saying they could not come and protest on the property.
"They told us they had been informed it was a protest and it didn't matter if we wanted to visit patients, we were not allowed on the property," said Michael Keller, leader of Rolling Thunder Chapter 2.
But demonstrations are not allowed on VA property or national cemeteries. They are prohibited by federal law, said Carol Waters, the hospital's public affairs officer.
In September, VA officials announced the emergency department, in-patient beds and in-patient surgical units would close and the hospital would beef up its long-term care and mental health services. Clinics in Charlotte and Winston-Salem would also receive more primary care physicians.
Carolyn Adams, the hospital's director, said in a press conference Friday that none of the changes have been implemented. There is no timeline for the closure and about 145 employees will be affected by the closure of the units.
By phasing out emergency and in-patient surgical services, veterans will have to go to hospitals closer to their homes. Adams said the VA is working with Carolinas HealthCare System, Novant Health and Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center to make sure veterans get the same quality of care at those facilities. Case managers will also be stationed at local hospitals to help veterans with bill payments and such, Adams said.
"As Adams said, none of the changes would be until processes are in place and are fail-safe," said Waters.
But veterans are not happy about the changes. They say the VA is pushing out veterans who have earned health care for life for their service.
"I don't want to go to another doctor," said Keller, 59. "The VA is military-oriented. We connect with the doctors and nurses. I think the proposed changes are a way to hoodoo veterans out of benefits."
Another rider, Jeff Phillips, said "regular doctors care about money; the VA cares about us."
Bill Meek, a representative of Sen. Elizabeth Dole, rode with the veterans. He said Dole has contacted Secretary of Veterans Affairs James Peake and asked him to stop any changes going through at the Salisbury VA hospital.
"The people of this country owe you health care as long as you are living," Meek said.
• Contact reporter Ben McNeely: 704-789-9131
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