'Absolutely ludicrous': Vets frustrated over broken elevator at VA hospital
Share and Follow


OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) There’s been more frustrations with the Oklahoma City VA on a story we brought you first a couple weeks ago.

More disabled veterans are coming forward with concerns over a broken elevator that’s limiting their access to the building.

“We shouldn’t have to be dealing with this. This is absolutely ludicrous,” said Alan Anderson, Air Force veteran.

For veterans like Alan Anderson, just getting inside the VA has become a challenge.

“We’re supposed to have access to this care. This was something we’ve earned, you know, I did 15 years,” said Anderson.

Anderson says the elevator in the parking garage has been an issue for the last five years, often breaking down.

“There’s no avenue. It’s we either have to park out in the neighborhood and travel across or not go to our appointment,” said Anderson.

If you want a parking spot on ground level, veterans say you have to get there early.

“I got there at 7 a.m. for a 10 a.m. appointment, so I could have a parking spot,” said William Farr, Navy veteran.

There are stairs, but for those in a wheelchair that’s an impossible task.

“I saw one guy, he had two crutches and he had to come down the steps and he said it took him forever to get down and we got down to bottom and he was just so tired,” said Farr.

The Oklahoma City VA says a new elevator control system is expected to be delivered and installed over the next three to four months. 

In the meantime, volunteers and staff are providing transportation assistance with golf carts Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., but that’s not for everyone.

“They can go around and help those people, but they can’t pick my chair up,” said Anderson.

The VA also tells veterans to avoid walking or wheeling down the entry ramp for safety reasons, but Anderson says sometimes that’s the only option.

“It’s either do that or not go to your at your appointment. They don’t put lights in the circles in there, so you know I have a good chair fortunately, so it will make that incline, but these guys in the smaller scooters, they get stuck and now they’re in the way in the traffic, they can’t see them,” said Anderson.

We reached back out to the OKC VA Healthcare System to ask how long this has been an issue and why the system wasn’t replaced sooner. We were told they have no further comments at this time.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Former Nickelodeon star Kianna Underwood killed in hit-and-run

Tragic Hit-and-Run Claims Life of Former Nickelodeon Star Kianna Underwood

NEW YORK (AP) — Former Nickelodeon child star Kianna Underwood tragically lost…
Brooklyn Beckham FINALLY speaks out on family feud

Brooklyn Beckham Breaks Silence on Family Dispute

Brooklyn Beckham has made headlines with a surprising public critique of his…
JSO: One injured in overnight shooting near St. Johns Town Center

Breaking News: Overnight Shooting Near St. Johns Town Center Leaves One Injured – Stay Informed

Authorities from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office have reported a shooting incident that…
FILE - A crowd marches across the Lefty O

US Political Tensions Ignite Calls for Action on MLK Day

As the nation marks the 40th federal observance of Martin Luther King…
Ukrainian drone strikes leave hundreds of thousands without power across Russian-controlled area

Drone Attacks in Russian-Controlled Zone Cut Power to Hundreds of Thousands

On Sunday, Ukrainian drones launched strikes targeting energy infrastructure in areas of…
Ian Jackson, Joson Sanon shining in St. John's win could be March game-changer

St. John’s Victory: Ian Jackson and Joson Sanon Poised to Transform March Madness

Saturday night was a memorable one for St. John’s, clinching a narrow…
Teen charged as adult after fleeing deputies investigating St. Johns County boy's kidnapping

Teen Faces Adult Charges After Fleeing Authorities in St. Johns County Kidnapping Case

Authorities are currently investigating whether 15-year-old Junior Bishop played a role in…
Retired South Carolina couple found dead in homicides at home

Tragic Discovery: Retired South Carolina Couple Victims of Homicide in Their Residence

The tragic deaths of a married couple, discovered in their South Carolina…