Pipe break halts VA appointments

A broken water pipe outside a Veterans Affairs health clinic caused doctors to cancel about two dozen medical appointments Wednesday, officials of the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System said.

But doctors and nurses were able to use hand sanitizers and bottled water and see 275 other patients as planned.

The water failure was discovered about dawn at the Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center on Plummer Street.

Water service was restored about 2:30 p.m., said Jim Duvall, a VA spokesman.

No surgical procedures are performed at the clinic.

Patients whose appointments were delayed were those who were scheduled for specialty work, such as dentistry, Duvall said.

-- Bob Pool