Vet happy his case may have led to changes with Veterans Affairs

TORONTO — Veterans Affairs pledged to review its policies after QMI Agency put the spotlight on a Mississauga veteran’s struggles in obtaining a blood pressure monitoring machine.

Second World War vet Bill Wharton recently spoke out about his difficulties with Veterans Affairs after a “clicking” heartbeat sent him to his doctor’s office.

When directed to monitor his blood pressure t wice daily, the 85-year-old was shocked when Veterans Affairs refused to pay for his $135 blood pressure machine — offering instead to dish out $600 a month to send him to the nearest clinic by taxi.

“Now I feel as though I’ve done something,” Wharton said Monday, adding he was overjoyed to hear that his case may have helped spur change.

“The care and well-being of our veterans is a priority for our government,” insisted Codie Taylor, spokesman for Veterans Affairs Minister Steven Blaney. “We are ensuring veterans have access to the services they need and deserve. That’s why Minister Blaney instructed his officials to review this policy.”

Ken Howard, an executive at the Legion 22 Branch in Toronto, said he was “a little horrified” that veterans have to struggle after all they have been through.

“I can’t believe somebody who fought for this country is almost forgotten,” Howard said.

Some readers offered to buy a machine, but Wharton, who fought in Belgium, Holland and Germany, declined all offers, saying that he wasn’t concerned about getting money for himself.

Instead, he stressed that he only wanted to tell the public about the struggle others who may not be as fortunate as him might be facing.