Congressman O’Rourke: Takes veteran average of 71 days to see mental health provider at El Paso VA

Congressman Beto O’Rourke had his office conduct a survey of veterans in their database to determine the quality and access to care for primary and mental health at the El Paso VA.

Just under 700 veterans participated in the survey.

“Our survey shows that on average it takes a veteran 71 days to see a mental health provider and more than 36% of veterans attempting to make an appointment were unable to see a mental health provider at all,” O’Rourke said in a statement on his Facebook page. “For those who do get an appointment, these sessions are routinely cancelled before they can take place. The survey also found that wait times for primary health were unacceptably long, with over 71.8% reporting that they could not schedule a primary care visit within 14 days of their request.”

O’Rourke added that the recent Phoenix VA scandal “proves that we cannot depend on the VA to hold itself accountable.”

“The best way to determine how the VA is doing is to ask the veterans themselves,” O’Rourke said.

Read the full findings from the survey at http://1.usa.gov/1tIwScL

Read recent Department of Veterans Affairs reviews of El Paso VA care