San Antonio VA hospital had safety hazards for 6 years, federal report finds – KSAT

San Antonio VA hospital had safety hazards for 6 years, federal report finds  KSAT

The federal government’s own watchdog is raising serious concerns about the mental health unit at San Antonio’s Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans’ Hospital, finding safety hazards that went unresolved for years, privacy violations and widespread failures in patient care documentation. SAN ANTONIO – The federal government’s own watchdog is raising serious concerns about the mental health unit at San Antonio’s Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans’ Hospital, finding safety hazards that went unresolved for years, privacy violations and widespread failures in patient care documentation. The VA Office of Inspector General released the report Sept. 14, following an inspection conducted in January 2026. Inspectors identified 13 recommendations for facility leaders — and the hospital agreed with all of them.

Among the most alarming findings: Sinks and toilets inside the mental health unit had anchor points that posed a hanging risk to veterans. According to the report, appeals for those deficiencies had been repeatedly approved and in place for six years — with no permanent fix in sight. A separate deficiency involving paper towel dispensers, which also created a hanging risk, had been unresolved for more than four years. In May 2026, facility staff reported requesting approval for an emergency contract to address the issues, with an estimated completion date of December 2027. The report also found that VA police were monitoring and