Veterans of Foreign Wars president weighs in on VA hospital problems
CARY, N.C. (WTVD) -- There's growing outrage over Veterans Affairs hospitals after a scandal involving a delay in lifesaving care.
The top commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars was in Cary Wednesday night demanding accountability. VFW Post 7383 was the latest of dozens of stops for National Commander-in-Chief Bill Thien.
In addition to the inspector general's investigation, which includes Durham's VA hospital, Thien wants the government to get an outside audit.
"That's why we're here to take care of veterans and their families," said Thien.
The VFW's top commander landed in Cary coincidently the same day the president called for accountability with the VA following reports of cooked books.
"If these allegations prove to be true, it is dishonorable," said President Barack Obama. "It is disgraceful, and I will not tolerate it, period."
The president said he'd wait for a report due next week on the scope of the problem. Thien wants an outside independent investigation.
"Most of the members are really concerned about what's transpired not only in Phoenix, but Fort Collins, and some other places," said Thien.
The investigation has put VA hospitals on the hot seat following reports that VA workers in Phoenix created secret lists to look more efficient. It all happened while dozens of veterans died waiting for care.
Excessive waiting is a widespread complaint hitting veterans at the VA hospital here in Durham as well.
"Scheduling is inconsistent because I have the records," said veteran Cora Boddie.
"They bounce me around. I'm bounced around," said Air Force veteran James Moore.
The VFW was originally formed in the early 1900s to fill the gap.
"After the Spanish-American War, many of them came home. They were sick. They were ill, had diseases," said Thien. "Frankly, America didn't take care of her veterans."
That makes the VA scandal even more disheartening considering the government's growing pledge to care for its own.
"We really want that investigation to tell us the truth," said Thien. "That's what we're after the truth."
Like President Obama, Thien also lauded the VA system's mission. He says it deals with 200,000 appointments per day, and that there are a lot of dedicated workers.
However, he says the backlog has been a major issue for years that needs to get fixed.
