San Diego
The Balboa Park Naval Hospital is reducing some services for military dependents, military retirees, and retirees’ dependents because some medical staffers have left for the Middle East, the Navy announced Thursday.
The Mercy, a hospital ship, left earlier this week with medical personnel from San Diego on board.
At the hospital, active duty patients will have priority for treatment. Inpatient surgery is expected to be reduced by 50%, and outpatient services should be reduced by 20%.
The obstetrics-gynecology department has not been affected, but the hematology-oncology department will not be taking new patients.
Nonactive duty personnel who are eligible for medical services will continue to get treatment as staffing allows, the Navy said.
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