New VA clinic to expand services

SOMERSWORTH — More community-based clinical-care options, as well as mental-health and women's health services for veterans are needed in New Hampshire, according to U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-NH.

Hassan made her remarks Monday morning at a groundbreaking ceremony for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Somersworth Community Based Outpatient Clinic.

"This new center is going to allow us to move toward that vision," Hassan said, "so that veterans can get the right care at the right place at the right time. (Any) veteran who needs help, especially veterans who need mental-health services, or help with PTSD, need it when they need it."

Hassan noted that the new clinic was one of the recommendations in a report from the VA New Hampshire Vision 2025 Task Force, made up of experts from the local medical community and VA officials to learn how to best address the needs of New Hampshire veterans.

"We need to implement a lot more of those recommendations a lot more quickly," Hassan said, "but that we're taking a step (like) this one so quickly is terrific."

The new clinic will feature two-and-a-half times the space of a current one at 200 Route 108. It will double the number of examination rooms and add space for mental health, women’s health and other services. The new clinic will be located across Route 108 from the current facility.

According to information provided by the VA, the Somersworth clinic has 2,940 patients enrolled for care who came in for 7,891 appointments in the latest fiscal year.

Jim Alty, a 84-year-old Korean War-era veteran from Dover who is now an advocate for his fellow veterans, said the new clinic is a good first step to help veterans, but more needs to be done to address veterans' mental health.

"We can't wait on these guys," Alty said. "That's why I want two more buildings — one for drug and alcohol (abuse) and one for post-traumatic stress disorder. I hope we're going to get it."

Alfred Montoya, director of the Manchester VA Medical Center, said Alty's advocacy helped move the clinic project forward.

"I haven't met a stronger advocate in Mr. Alty," Montoya said. "I really appreciate a fellow airman being up here."

Also in attendance was U.S. Rep.-elect Chris Pappas, D-NH, who said health outcomes for veterans will improve with more specialty care, which the new clinic will provide.

"(Veterans) stood up and served us," Pappas said. "So we need to do everything we can to continue to improve services and make sure they have the best access to care in the state."

Outgoing U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, D-NH, said the need for veterans health care is going to increase as Vietnam War-era veterans age.

"My husband's a Vietnam-era vet," Shea-Porter said. "He did not serve in Vietnam, but he is just one of so many who is going to be knocking at the doors."

Somersworth Mayor Dana Hilliard said the city was proud to be home to the current and new clinics.

"Our proud past, like this gentleman (Alty), who has defended our liberties and brought us here today," Hilliard said. "This is a true reflection of success."