OLYMPIA – New patients seeking a primary care doctor through VA Puget Sound in Seattle faced a wait time of nearly 59 days, according to a Department of Veterans Affairs internal review released Monday.

The report shows wait times averaged about 29 days in Spokane and 43 days in Walla Walla, indicating that delays at the state’s three largest VA systems far exceeded the department’s stated 14-day goal.

Officials with the three systems didn’t return calls or emails seeking comment on the first nationwide audit of the VA network following uproar that began with reports two months ago of patients dying while awaiting appointments and cover-ups at the Phoenix VA center.

Any thoughts as to how the VA got so messed up?

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