Associated Press - November 4, 2009 4:14 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AP) - Illinois lawmakers say Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki (shin-SEH'-kee) has ordered a high-level, quality management team to assess problems at a troubled VA hospital in southern Illinois.

Sen. Dick Durbin says Shinseki assured lawmakers Wednesday that fixing problems at the Marion VA hospital is a "personal priority."

A report issued this week says there still are problems at the hospital two years after major surgeries were halted because of a spike in deaths.

The report was issued by the Office of the Inspector General. It shows inconsistencies with reporting deaths and problems with patient safety, including surgeons performing procedures they weren't authorized to do.

Durbin says the ongoing problems are inexcusable and unacceptable.

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