Missing Benches – No One is Thinking

Jim Fausone
Veteran Disability Lawyer

 

Even in a system notorious for the occasional bureaucratic bumble, this one had people scratching their heads. Outside the Washington, D.C. Veteran's Medical Center, where the sick, the disabled, the elderly and the tired would sit and wait for their rides, or to escape the heat, benches were missing. Hospital administrators recently removed a number of benches in front of the building, leaving disabled veterans and the elderly, among others, to stand outside or in the hospital foyer while waiting for the bus or a ride to pick them up.  Some even sat on radiators in the hallways. No folding chairs or other seating was provided.

In way of an explanation, a spokesperson for the VA hospital stated, "The facility is developing a new Front Drive Plan to alleviate congestion and move veterans and visitors through the area safely. The seating will be replaced once the new design plan is approved and completed." Why planners did not simply leave the benches in place until the new design plan was implemented is unknown. The new plan is slated to be approved, though not completed, according to reports, by this November.

According to Rep. Jeff Miller, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, “VA should put the comfort and safety of veterans visiting the DC VA first. If a renovation is being considered to alleviate traffic in that area, then the current seating should remain as long as possible to accommodate veterans using the facility and an alternate entry site, with seating, needs to be planned for in the meantime.”

The local "7 On Your Side" news crew headed out to cover the story on August 29; less than 24 hours later, a forklift appeared, and the benches were reinstalled.

 “We understand the hospital’s stance that this was part of an overall renovation plan," said Ryan Gallucci, Deputy Director of National Legislative Service for the VFW. "We would encourage hospital administrators to quickly come up with an interim solution to make sure veterans – many of whom are at the hospital because they are ill, injured or disabled – have reasonable accommodations while they wait for their ride."

 
http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/08/veteran-s-medical-center-removes-benches--79370.html

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/08/washington-va-hospital-returns-benches-after-7-on-your-side-report-79410.html