BUFFALO, N.Y. — We continue to follow allegations in patient care delays for veterans at the Buffalo VA Medical Center.
The story broke earlier this week as two top officials were removed from their roles and transferred.
There was more information on the Buffalo case and overall issues for the VA when U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy met with interim managers at the center Thursday afternoon.
There has been a search for answers ever since the the management change for the Western New York Veterans HealthCare System. Here is why it happened with patient care concerns, according to Congressman Langworthy.
"Somewhere between three and four dozen cases where veterans on cancer referrals to community partners," Langworthy said. "That's when the VA can't handle the treatment in house. They have work with an institution such as Roswell (Park) or one of our other various hospitals. That is what has happened here. Some of that care has been delayed.
While it may be disturbing to hear about the allegations at the Buffalo VA Medical Center and what happened with executives there, try doing a Google search on line. Let's take a look: the Phoenix VA Healthcare System Director was removed. The VA removed the director at the Clarksburg, Va., medical center. The Department of Veterans Affairs fired a longtime Washington DC medical center director. Another VA moved to fire four senior executives due to scandal, and another VA put a regional director on leave after veteran found covered in ants.
It turns out the VA reported last month a projected $15 billion deficit with questions about adequate staffing and the ability to handle more veteran care with the Pact Act related to veterans' exposure to toxic burn pits.
2 On Your Side asked Congressman Langworthy: Is this a case where politicians have made a lot of promises to veterans they can't keep?
Langworthy responded: Oh, we can keep these promises.
Reporter: But doesn't this indicate problems?
Langworthy: I am assured that this is not a budgetary problem. This is a staffing problem. This is an incompetence problem. This is relatively new information as they see a long term shortfall. But I am assured that this problem at Buffalo VA has nothing to do with budget.
Langworthy actually went out of his way to praise the interim leadership he met with Thursday and the overall reputation of the facility. He did say he expects investigation results from an Inspector General's report as to what happened here in late September or October.
In the meantime, the National Nurses United union will hold a protest over staffing at the Buffalo VA Medical Center on Friday afternoon.