Patients of the Department of Veterans outpatient clinic in New London will have access to a bigger space with expanded services not far from where they’re receiving care now.

The VA Connecticut Healthcare System announced this week a 20-year, $7.8 million lease at 6 Shaws Cove, the new site for the New London John J. McGuirk VA Outpatient Clinic, which offers primary health care services to vets. The clinic currently is located at 4 Shaws Cove.

"I wish my dad was around to see it grow," said Peter McGuirk, a longtime patient at the clinic, which is named after his father. He said he'd like to see the new site offer dental and hematology services and an X-ray machine.

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, who has advocated for the expansion, said “there’s no question the density of veterans who use the clinic justifies the new space.”

The new site, which will be triple the size of the current space, is expected to open in mid-2021. The VA said in a news release that it will offer expanded specialty and telehealth services at the new site and more providers will be based there.

“Our New London Clinic serves the most veterans of our six community clinics,” Director Alfred Montoya Jr. said. “The move will mark the third time we’ve had to relocate the clinic due to increased workload. We consider that a good thing as it demonstrates a definite need in this region of the state.” 

The clinic originally opened in 1994 on the grounds of the Coast Guard Academy, where it first operated on a temporary and irregular basis before operating full time. It moved to its current location in 2007.