HAMPTON, Va. — Veterans now have another option for health services, as health leaders cut the ribbon on the new Langley VA Clinic. It's located inside the Langley Air Force Base Hospital at Joint Base Langley-Eustis for better convenience for veterans.
"Today is not just about opening up a facility," said Taquisa Simmons, Executive Director of the Veterans Affairs Department. "It's about reaffirming our promise that we care about our nation's heroes today, tomorrow, and forevermore."
The clinic is designed to serve up to 10,000 veterans and offers an array of services. This includes annual checkups, screenings, mental health resources and dentist visits.
It comes at a pivotal time as more than 400,000 veterans have enrolled in VA clinics, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. It has led to some backlogs in care, as a recent Government Accountability Office report found that less than 10% of VA Medical Centers scheduled 75% of their appointments within the current standard.
Base commanders believe the new clinic will be an additional resource veterans can use to get the help they need.
"I'm very excited about this, most personally and as the installation commander here at JBLE because you know I come from a family of veterans, my father and my two brothers are all marines," said Matthew Altman, Installation Commander at JBLE. "It's important that we give them the healthcare that they have earned for our nation."
Veterans will need to make an appointment in order to go. Appointments must be made through the Veterans Affairs Office.