New Hampshire veterans hospital scales back clinic hours

The urgent care facility at New Hampshire's only veterans medical center is reducing its hours, forcing veterans to get treatment elsewhere in the evenings and overnight.

The Manchester clinic now offers around-the-clock care but after Aug. 30, it will only accept walk-ins from 8 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. daily.

The move to shift away from an around-the-clock facility comes as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs presses for the use of urgent care clinics nationwide.

But the center's director says the reduction in hours is welcome and part of a larger effort to offer even more health care services.

A veterans advisory committee member says there should be no burden on veterans.

The change in hours has been largely welcomed by veterans groups.

(Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)