News Releases
April 2000
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News ReleasesApril 2000Contents Previous Releases:
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Bristol team transfers IT equipment to Laming and Royal Liverpool Children’s InquiriesThe Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry team has been able to assist two other National Health Service inquiries by transferring IT equipment and furniture to them. The Laming Inquiry and the Royal Liverpool Children’s Inquiry both needed equipment which would otherwise have to be provided by the Department of Health. The BRI Inquiry team has been able to help out with some of their requirements, transferring thousands of pounds worth of computer equipment as well as chairs and office furniture. Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry Chairman Professor Ian Kennedy said: "We needed equipment ourselves when we began our work and it has always been our intention to see if the NHS could use it when we no longer needed it. Professor Kennedy said: "Inquiries like this use public money and it is very important that this should be used as effectively and efficiently as possible. He said: "I am pleased that we have been able to transfer some of our equipment at this stage to help other inquiry teams and to make best use of public money." The Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry team held its preliminary hearing in October 1998. Oral hearings for the Inquiry’s Phase One, which looked back at how services in Bristol were organised, started in March 1999 and ended in December of that year. Phase Two of the Inquiry, which took a broader, national perspective, involved a series of seven seminars which were held between January and March this year. m.f. -2- The Inquiry team has been asked to publish an interim report on the subject of tissue retention after post mortem. This interim report is scheduled for the spring. The Inquiry’s full report is scheduled to be published in the late autumn this year. As well as completing Phase One and Phase Two on schedule, the Inquiry is well within its allocated financial budget - £10 million has been spent since September 1998. Inquiry Chairman Professor Ian Kennedy said: "I said from the outset that I wanted the Inquiry to be thorough but I also wanted to proceed with reasonable speed. I am pleased that we have managed to keep to our timetable. He said: "I also said that we would be making full use of IT in this Inquiry and it has been estimated that the electronic systems we put in place have saved a third of the normal hearing time. "We had reached a stage where we no longer had a need for some of the equipment and I’m glad that others will be able to make use of it. As we proceed, I hope that other equipment and resources which we can transfer within the NHS can be identified." ENDS
For further information please contact Richard Green, Head of Communications, Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry, tel (0117) 938 8709.
Notes for editors: the Inquiry website address is www.Bristol-Inquiry.org.uk April 12, 2000 |