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Schumer: Outpatient Surgical Services Needed for Local Veterans

Schumer with area veterans at the Flag Store in Rochester
Alex Crichton
Schumer with area veterans at the Flag Store in Rochester

Senator Charles Schumer says many of the 69-thousand veterans in  the Rochester/Finger Lakes region have to travel 70 miles or more to get medical services they need and deserve.

That's because unlike in Albany, Syracuse and Buffalo, there is no VA ambulatory outpatient surgery services in the Rochester area.

"We are asking the VA now to start phase 2 of this expansion of outpatient services in Rochester to make sure it includes outpatient surgery."

Veteran Frank Butera says ambulatory services, and outpatient surgical services have been needed in Rochester for over 15 years now.

"We've been waiting, and it's finally down the road, and we need everybody's support.  So if anybody can help, please help Senator Schumer help us."

The Veterans Administration is moving ahead with plans to replace the current VA facility on Westfall Road, but Schumer says it isn’t going far enough.

He has written the Secretary of the VA urging him to make it a priority to fund a facility in the Rochester area that will house ambulatory surgery services: