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| Embattled veterans minister Shinseki fights on | Embattled veterans minister Shinseki fights on |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki has called the delays to veterans' medical care "reprehensible" as calls mount for him to resign. | Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki has called the delays to veterans' medical care "reprehensible" as calls mount for him to resign. |
| Writing in USA Today, he vowed to address the problems outlined in Wednesday's damning watchdog report. | Writing in USA Today, he vowed to address the problems outlined in Wednesday's damning watchdog report. |
| It found that 1,700 veterans in Phoenix were left to fend for themselves, not even on doctors' waiting lists. | It found that 1,700 veterans in Phoenix were left to fend for themselves, not even on doctors' waiting lists. |
| Republican Arizona Senator John McCain is leading calls for him to step down, echoed by some Democrats. | Republican Arizona Senator John McCain is leading calls for him to step down, echoed by some Democrats. |
| But House Speaker John Boehner said on Thursday that he's reserving judgement about the embattled secretary. | |
| The report by the inspector general for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) found systemic problems at the VA nationwide, but particular problems in Phoenix. | The report by the inspector general for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) found systemic problems at the VA nationwide, but particular problems in Phoenix. |
| It said about 1,700 veterans in need of care there were "at risk of being lost or forgotten" after being kept off the official waiting list. | It said about 1,700 veterans in need of care there were "at risk of being lost or forgotten" after being kept off the official waiting list. |
| The average wait at that hospital for a first appointment was 115 days, 91 days longer than the hospital reported. | The average wait at that hospital for a first appointment was 115 days, 91 days longer than the hospital reported. |
| Mr Shinseki wrote that the findings of the report were "reprehensible to me and to this department, and we are not waiting to set things straight". | Mr Shinseki wrote that the findings of the report were "reprehensible to me and to this department, and we are not waiting to set things straight". |
| He had ordered a nationwide audit of care, he said, and taken action to put the leadership team in Phoenix on administrative leave pending an investigation. | He had ordered a nationwide audit of care, he said, and taken action to put the leadership team in Phoenix on administrative leave pending an investigation. |
| "After 38 years in the Army, I am honoured and privileged to serve veterans as the secretary of Veterans Affairs, and I remain committed to providing the high-quality care and benefits that veterans have earned and deserve. And we will." | "After 38 years in the Army, I am honoured and privileged to serve veterans as the secretary of Veterans Affairs, and I remain committed to providing the high-quality care and benefits that veterans have earned and deserve. And we will." |
| White House press secretary Jay Carney said President Obama had been briefed on the findings and found them "extremely troubling." | White House press secretary Jay Carney said President Obama had been briefed on the findings and found them "extremely troubling." |
| Case study | Case study |
| Navy veteran Ken Senft, 65, was told he would have to wait two years to see a dermatologist about a lesion on his head. | Navy veteran Ken Senft, 65, was told he would have to wait two years to see a dermatologist about a lesion on his head. |
| Instead, he paid to see a private doctor and he was diagnosed with cancer. | Instead, he paid to see a private doctor and he was diagnosed with cancer. |
| "What if I had waited two years?'' said Mr Senft, who lives in Phoenix. "I might be dead." | "What if I had waited two years?'' said Mr Senft, who lives in Phoenix. "I might be dead." |
| The president has vowed that any evidence of misconduct would be dealt with. | The president has vowed that any evidence of misconduct would be dealt with. |
| The US veterans health system serves about nine million former US military service members. | The US veterans health system serves about nine million former US military service members. |
| It is a series of hospitals and other medical facilities separate from the US military health system. | It is a series of hospitals and other medical facilities separate from the US military health system. |
| Eligible veterans apply for the care, which is often free or low-cost. | Eligible veterans apply for the care, which is often free or low-cost. |