New London — In his first visit to the John J. McGuirk Outpatient Clinic, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal asked staffers there for their "wish list" in light of a $10 billion proposal to upgrade Department of Veterans Affairs facilities.

Blumenthal, D-Conn., spent time Tuesday afternoon touring the clinic, the busiest of the VA's six community-based outpatient clinics in Connecticut, and chatting up patients and staff. The clinic, which focuses on primary and mental health care, serves about 4,800 veterans. The VA is hoping to almost double the size of the clinic.

Last month, Democrats in the U.S. Senate unveiled a $1 trillion infrastructure plan over the next decade, including $10 billion for VA infrastructure upgrades. Sixty percent of VA buildings are 50 years or older, and the VA estimates their facilities need as much as $50 billion in capital investment over the next decade, according to Blumenthal's office.

President Donald Trump has also proposed to increase the VA's budget.

The growth in the number of patients being seen at the clinic and in services has resulted in a space crunch, Chris Ruser, chief of primary care for the VA Connecticut Healthcare System, told Blumenthal.

"We're at the point where efficiency is affected, and our ability to see patients the way we would like to see them," Ruser said. "You can see people crammed into rooms and providers running back and forth from different spaces."

All but the VA's Willimantic clinic, the newest, have outgrown their space, according to the Ruser.

Blumenthal said going forward he would be advocating for more space and investment at the clinics.

j.bergman@theday.com