WASHINGTON -- Washington Senator Patty Murray says she was assured during a trip to Fort Lewis last month that as far as officials there knew, there were not any problems with the medical care soldiers were receiving. But now she says she's outraged to learn that soldiers are suffering.

During a Senate hearing Wednesday, Senator Murray grilled Army Surgeon General Kevin Kiley about reports of soldiers being kept in Medical Hold Units at Madigan Army Medical Center at Fort Lewis much longer than necessary without adequate care or compensation.

"You can understand what it's like for 18 months, for someone to sit there day after day, appointment after appointment being told one thing or another and feeling like their life is absolutely on hold. You can imagine what it’s like for their families," she said.

General Kiley responded, "It's very difficult. I agree with you. We're going to take this on."

Senator Murray also called on General Kiley to assure her that soldiers who speak out will not face any retaliation. She says too many soldiers have been afraid to express their concerns because they did not want to be labeled as troublemakers.

Meanwhile, army officials took reporters on a tour of Madigan hospital to answer complaints it has some of the same problems exposed at Walter Reed hospital.

The soldier support group "Operation Home Front" said there were asbestos and lead in some Madigan rooms and that the hospital is short of caseworkers.

Madigan officials said there is no exposure risk from lead and asbestos. And, officials say Madigan's ratio of caseworkers to soldiers is one to 20.

However one soldier who was made available to talk to reporters said he's frustrated by his experiences at Madigan since June.

In addition, veterans have e-mailed KIRO 7 Eyewitness News with complaints about long delays to get disability care.

They said there's so much red tape that injured soldiers wait an average of 18 months for their disability to be processed and approved.

Army inspectors will visit the hospital to look at outpatient care, building conditions and the type of problems discovered at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.