Connecticut veterans reacted Monday to information about increased numbers of veterans waiting for health care at Connecticut’s VA facilities. According to federal audit results, the number of veterans waiting over 30 days for a health care appointment nearly tripled between May and June of this year from 998 veterans to 2,727.
In Manchester, retired Navy officer Rusty Meek was not surprised by the news.
“Some people get bookings and they don’t even have a doctor for them,” Meek said.
Meek says he has heard of long wait times at the VA’s West Haven facility. He described the problem as a lack of medical professionals to meet the high numbers of veterans seeking care. He also said he has received adequate and professional health care for many years from the very same system.
“My care at the VA, I’d say 95 percent of the time, it was great,” Meek said.
House lawmakers will hear testimony this evening from whistle blowers who claim the VA retaliated against them for exposing problems in the facilities.
Bob McDonald, who’s nominated to be the next VA secretary, is scheduled to meet with Vermont senator Bernie sanders this afternoon. Sanders is the chairman of the senate veterans committee.