For years, WRAL Investigates has highlighted issues with local VA hospitals. Veterans complained of long waits for appointments, questions about the VA’s record keeping to make their appointment data look better to the VA failing to pay bills when the veterans went to doctors outside of the system. Now add Covid-19 to a system many veterans don’t already trust.
The Durham VA has reported 185 COVID-19 cases and seven related deaths among veterans and employees since the beginning of the pandemic this spring. At least 33 currently have the virus.
In Fayetteville there were more than 200 total cases and 12 deaths. Of those cases,33 are currently active.
VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said the numbers are concerning, but the system is stable, “We’re not stressed in eastern North Carolina when it comes to our veterans resources.”
WRAL Investigates has highlighted several issues with local VA hospitals in the past.
Veterans complained of long waits of days or even weeks before getting access to an appointment.
