PORTLAND, Maine - The Office of the Inspector General in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says the VA Maine Healthcare System is linked to nationwide problems with mental health services for veterans.
The office says in a report released on Wednesday that many veterans have not received mental health services or have waited long periods for the services because of problems such as inappropriate scheduling practices.
The Portland Press Herald reports that the office found problems with scheduling, staffing and employee morale in the mental health unit of the veterans system based in Togus. The federal campus is outside of Augusta and serves almost 10,000 patients.
Togus Director Ryan Lilly says the facility is pleased that the review "did not substantiate the majority of the allegations.''