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VA says patient access to medical care improving

President Barack Obama, center, and Vice President Joe Biden, left, walk with Procter and Gamble executive Robert McDonald, Obama's nominee as the next Veterans Affairs secretary, from the Department of Veterans Affairs back to the White House in Washington, Monday, June 30, 2014. If confirmed by the Senate, McDonald would succeed Eric Shinseki, the retired four-star general who resigned last month as the scope of the issues at veterans' hospitals became apparent. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
President Barack Obama, center, and Vice President Joe Biden, left, walk with Procter and Gamble executive Robert McDonald, Obama's nominee as the next Veterans Affairs secretary, from the Department of Veterans Affairs back to the White House in Washington, Monday, June 30, 2014. If confirmed by the Senate, McDonald would succeed Eric Shinseki, the retired four-star general who resigned last month as the scope of the issues at veterans' hospitals became apparent. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) President Barack Obama, center, and Vice President Joe Biden, left, walk with Procter and Gamble executive Robert McDonald, Obama's nominee as the next Veterans Affairs secretary, from the Department of Veterans Affairs back to the White House in Washington, Monday, June 30, 2014. If confirmed by the Senate, McDonald would succeed Eric Shinseki, the retired four-star general who resigned last month as the scope of the issues at veterans' hospitals became apparent. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

By Associated Press 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Department of Veterans Affairs says it has reached out to nearly 140,000 veterans in the past two months to get them off waiting lists and into clinics for medical appointments.

Acting VA Secretary Sloan Gibson revealed the number Thursday as the VA released new figures showing improved patient access to VA hospitals and clinics nationwide.

The announcement follows a national outcry over reports of patient deaths and treatment delays at VA facilities across the country.

The agency says that as of June 15, about 46,000 veterans waited at least 90 days for their first VA medical appointments. That’s down from 57,000 who waited more than 90 days as of May 15.