Tampa Bay area veterans hospitals defer elective surgeries

As coronavirus cases grow in Tampa Bay, veterans hospitals are taking steps similar to other hospital systems to preserve beds.  James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa and its clinics as well as Bay Pines VA Healthcare System in St. Petersburg will defer elective procedures.  "Due to the rising number of cases in the Tampa Bay area, as well as our need to maintain surge capacity, we are postponing elective procedures that require admission to the hospital. Critical procedures and those…