Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 27, 1992 TAG: 9203270326
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR and MARK MORRISON STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A spokesman for the department said the discovery of two decomposed bodies on the hospital grounds Wednesday played a part in Secretary Edward Derwinski's decision.
So did a review team's investigation this week into claims of low employee morale, stressful working conditions and deteriorating patient care.
"You can't discount that," said Donald Smith, deputy director of public affairs for the department, referring to the discovery of the bodies. "That, in combination with other things, appears to be too much to be dealing with at the moment.
"You want to have your mind occupied with what you're doing. This is a significant addition to the hospital."
The ceremony for the $55 million facility, named after the Salem center's former director, Hugh Davis, had been scheduled for next Friday.
Derwinski announced the postponement in a press release issued shortly before 6 p.m. Thursday.
"Given the turmoil and events that have surfaced at the facility recently, I believe it would be inappropriate and unfair to the Davis family and to employees to have the ceremony at this time," Derwinski said.
Derwinski gave no further reason in the news release for postponing the dedication and could not be reached for comment Thursday night. His review team was scheduled to return to Washington, D.C., today.
The dedication has been in planning for nearly a year, Pat Clark, public information officer for the Salem center, said Thursday. More than 500 invitations - including one to Derwinski - had been mailed.
"I respect the decision of the Washington office," Clark said. The eastern regional director for Veterans Affairs notified her of the postponement late Thursday.
Alma Lee, president of the American Federation of Government Employees union local in Salem, said the union had asked Rep. Jim Olin, D-Roanoke, on Wednesday to consider postponing the dedication.
"We had mounting pressure to request that it be postponed, but he said he didn't think it could be," Lee said.
Lee was "very pleased" that the dedication had been postponed, she said. The union had been asked to picket during the dedication but dismissed that request early on "out of respect to Mr. Davis," Lee said.
"During his reign at the VA medical center, he built a great organization," Lee said. "He was a compassionate leader, a dedicated servant to the families and the service organizations."
This week's review was ordered by Derwinski's office following meetings earlier this month between VA officials and representatives of the AFGE local in Salem. Director Clark Graninger also had asked for the review.
Keywords:
FATALITY
by CNB