Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs is launching a disciplinary investigation into the Buffalo VA Medical Center.
As part of the investigation, U.S. Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health, Shereef Elnahal, will be visiting the hospital on Monday to get a firsthand look at the issues outlined in the Inspector General's report.
Congressman Tim Kennedy (D, NY-26) says this is a step in the right direction toward addressing an issue that should have never existed in the first place.
"I've worked in healthcare. I've seen what happens when you neglect to provide healthcare to someone. They don't get any better, they only get worse," Kennedy stated in an interview with WBEN. "We have an obligation to make sure that our veterans, our heroes in America, are getting the services that have been provided to them when they need it the most."
Congressman Nick Langworthy (R, NY-23) says he called to have this investigation when the situation was originally brought to his attention, and is happy that it's finally happening.
"I was very pleased that the inspector general came back before October, which is when we expected it, and now the disciplinary findings will come forward. These employees do have due process. This is the due process, and now the disciplinary recommendations will come down from the under secretary to determine their faith," Langworthy stated on WBEN's Hardline. "It is my hope, and I've expressed to the undersecretary, and I will continue to do that when he was here for his visit."