"The Trump administration has cut over 157 open roles at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center and outpatient clinics across the Bay Area. They warned that cuts will weaken the VA health care system by translating into higher strain on the medical center in the form of "longer wait times, heavier patient loads, reduced services and increased safety risks for the veterans who rely on the VA for care". The nationwide cuts were announced in December, targeting positions that have been vacant for at least a year. The VA has argued that the dissolution of these positions will not negatively affect care."
"Mark Smith, an occupational therapist and the NFFE Local 1 Union president, said the positions lost include peer support specialists - veterans hired to support fellow veterans' access to mental health treatment - as well as psychologists, therapists and nurses. Smith disagreed. "That's sort of like saying that, you know, you could throw out your fire extinguisher because your house hasn't caught fire lately, and you have a sink and a bucket.""
"The sunny afternoon rally in San Francisco's Land End drew honks and cheers from passing cars. Suzanne Gordon, co-founder of the Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute, told the crowd that the administration's decision will strangle the system, and kill patients. "It'll end up depriving them of healthcare because of staff cuts and capping cuts ... Every healthcare system has vacant positions, but a healthy healthcare system fills them quickly.""
Over 157 vacant positions at the San Francisco VA Medical Center and Bay Area outpatient clinics were eliminated, including peer support specialists, psychologists, therapists, nurses and the hospital's only emergency room social worker. The cuts target roles vacant for at least a year and were announced in December; the VA contends care will not suffer. Union leaders, veterans and advocates warn that reduced staffing will cause longer wait times, heavier patient loads, reduced services and increased safety risks. Organizers held a rally and officials plan testimony before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs on January 28.
Read at Kqed
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