The issues plaguing the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health care centers around the country seem to be staying out of Butler’s campus.

The VA’s inspector general on Wednesday identified 1,700 veterans awaiting medical care at the Phoenix, Ariz., VA hospital but who are not on an official waiting list. Veterans listed had an average wait of 115 days for a first appointment.

VA Butler Healthcare director John Gennaro said in a statement Thursday there is no delay in enrolling veterans at the Butler facility.

“Our dedicated staff make every effort to ensure veterans’ needs are addressed in a timely manner,” the statement said. “VA Butler has the resources and capacity to immediately enroll any eligible veteran needing VA care.”

Gennaro said in the statement it is the VA’s responsibility to provide care to its patients.

“It is our obligation to ensure our veterans receive timely access to the quality care we provide and they have earned,” he said.

VA Butler Healthcare serves more than 18,000 veterans annually at its facility in Butler and its outpatient clinics in Armstrong, Clarion, Lawrence and Mercer counties, and Cranberry Township.

Gennaro said the VA is systematically reviewing all medical centers and outpatient clinics regarding access. He said the reviews will be completed soon, and the VA will release the findings.

John Prichard, the District 26 Commander for the American Legion, said he does not believe there is a problem with delays in Butler County.

“From my own experience, and by talking with veterans, the waits don’t seem to be as acute here as in other parts of the country,” he said. “But realize there are more than 15,000 veterans in Butler County, and I haven’t spoken with all of them.”

District 26 of the American Legion covers 25 posts in Butler, Beaver and Lawrence counties.

Prichard said the biggest problems occur when patients need to leave the county for treatment.

“The only drawback is some of the specialties are only in Pittsburgh,” he said.

Butler offers a variety of services, including behavioral, dental, palliative, primary and visual care, but doesn’t cover all needs for veterans.

Prichard said those who need to travel to Pittsburgh eventually end up spending an entire day doing so.

“It becomes and all-day event,” he said. “That seems to be a problem. But people treated here seem to be happy with the service.”

Prichard said it is important for the VA health care centers to have good care for the nation’s veterans.

“Obviously when somebody leaves Butler County to enlist in the military, whether it was Afghanistan last week or in the Pacific 70 years ago, those men and women deserve the care they were promised.”

Prichard said the VA center is important for veterans because many are now low income and can’t afford treatment on their own.

“Some of these people don’t make a great deal of money,” he said.

U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-3rd, said he isn’t aware of any problems with the facility in Butler.

“I’ve heard nothing but positive input about it,” he said. “I hope people don’t paint all the VA centers with the same brush.”

Kelly added more positive comments about the VA facility in Erie, which also is part of his congressional district.

“It really seems to be an issue in other parts of the country,” he said.

But Kelly said regardless of which states the problem occurs, it needs to be solved.

For that he said VA administrators need to be held responsible for their actions.

“Accountability is key to everything,” he said.

Kelly was a co-sponsor of the Department of Veterans Affairs Management Accountability Act of 2014, which passed through the House May 21. The legislation would give the Secretary of the VA the necessary authority to fire VA officials whose performance the secretary believes warrants removal.

“It’s a pretty safe model,” he said. “It’s a standard model.”

Kelly said it was “sad” that veterans in Phoenix and other parts of the country have not received the care they deserve.

“This country can put a man on the moon, but it can’t get veterans an appointment with a doctor,” he said.

While the quality of service in Butler was not an issue for Kelly or Prichard, both said they have yet to hear any news regarding the new VA Butler Healthcare Center.

The center would replace the main building on the VA Butler Healthcare campus on New Castle Road.

Four sites are under consideration for the estimated $75 million project.

The VA originally awarded the contract last year to Westar Development of Aurora, Ohio, but later canceled the deal after accusing the developer of making false and misleading representations during the lease process.

Developers in the mix for the project anticipated a decision by the VA to be made this spring.