Arlington, Va. – The James A. Haley Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital in Tampa has severe pest control problems. Recently discovered emails from Miriam Ruisz, the hospital’s Infection Prevention Coordinator, note a construction crew replacing a kitchen ceiling “’filled multiple buckets with roaches, dead rats, and feces,’” and that “some roaches have been found on patients’ trays.”
Diego Echeverri, Florida State Director for Concerned Veterans for America, issued the following statement in reaction:
“The infestation of cockroaches, rats and mice at the Tampa VA hospital is disgusting and beyond unacceptable. This situation is a prime example of VA mismanagement and dysfunction. It’s clear managers should have taken action long before now to address the pests, and the VA’s reaction to this situation should not be tolerated. The Tampa VA hospital owes veterans an apology—not a defense of the deplorable conditions of the hospital.
“Our veterans fought to defend our country; they shouldn’t have to fight cockroaches off their trays at a VA medical center.”
For media inquiries, contact Emily Laird at elaird@cv4a.org or 571.302.0973.
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Concerned Veterans for America is a non-partisan, non-profit, 501(c)(4) organization that advocates for policies that will preserve the freedom and prosperity we and our families so proudly fought and sacrificed to defend.