Phoenix VA Scheme Exposed: 40 Veterans on Secret Waiting List Died While Waiting for CareLily Dane Many of those veterans were placed on a secret waiting list that was part of a scheme designed to hide how long patients actually had to wait for appointments. An estimated 1,400 to 1,600 veterans were forced to wait months to see a doctor. A recently retired top VA doctor and other high-level sources helped CNN expose the scheme: He said evidence was shredded in order to hide the long list of veterans waiting for care. VA officials also told staff not to schedule appointments in the computer system: Foote said the wait times that were reported to authorities in Washington were completely made up: CNN also reported that emails they obtained show that Phoenix VA Director Sharon Helman knew about the secret list and the actual wait times, and even defended its use to her staff. Foote has sent letters to officials at the VA Office of the Inspector General to report the secret electronic waiting list and the large number of veterans who died waiting for care. He and other sources told CNN that the IG has interviewed them about the scheme. U.S. House Veterans Affairs Committee in Washington chairman, Rep. Jeff Miller, has been investigating delays in care at veterans hospitals. Congress has now ordered all records in Phoenix be preserved for an upcoming investigation. Here is the CNN report, which includes an interview with family members of Navy veteran Thomas Breen, who died of stage four bladder cancer while waiting on the secret list for an appointment: Lily Dane is a staff writer for The Daily Sheeple, where this article first appeared. Her goal is to help people to Wake the Flock Up! 