U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy is calling the information “horrifying” that is included in a new report from the VA’s Office of Inspector General that outlines severe delays and mismanagement at the Buffalo VA.

Those issues led to critical lapses in care for veterans. The report highlights multiple cases where veterans experienced unnecessary pain, suffering, and, in one case, death due to failures in management and oversight.

“This report reveals a horrifying level of negligence that resulted in veterans experiencing significant delays in the care they desperately needed,” Langworthy said. “This is not about a lack of resources — this is about sheer incompetence from leadership at the Buffalo VA that left veterans to suffer and, in some cases, lose their lives. I spoke with VA Undersecretary Dr. Shereef Elnahal, who confirmed there will be a disciplinary hearing for those responsible, and I have confidence in his ability to get the Buffalo VA back on the right track. Above all else, we must follow up on real reforms to put veterans first, so they get the timely, quality care they deserve.”

The report outlines multiple cases of patient harm, including one veteran who died while waiting over two months for a radiation therapy appointment. “This latest IG report on the Buffalo VA highlights how important it is for every veteran to receive the best, quick care that meets their treatment needs, whether in-house, or in the community,” said House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Bost. “Community care is VA care, and I won’t let VA bureaucrats restrict it. It is unacceptable that VA is allowing its own leadership and failures to yet again lead to patient harm.”

Despite the severity of these delays, the report says leadership failed to take action even after multiple concerns were raised by staff and providers. “System and community care leaders failed to resolve significant community care scheduling delays for patients with serious health conditions, regardless of staff’s repeated efforts to notify leaders of these patient concerns,” the documents noted.