INQUIRY HEARS SEVENTH WEEK OF EVIDENCE
The Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry will hear next week from Mr Graham
Nix, current Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Finance at the United
Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust.
He will give evidence on Monday May 24 from 10.30 a.m. and on Tuesday
May 25 from 9.30 a.m.
Mr Nix has been called to assist the Inquiry Block Three of its evidence.
This Block looks at the Bristol services – questioning will be focussed
on management issues relating to the Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI), including
how the paediatric cardiac surgical services were set up and how they
were organised. Other witnesses will include managers and doctors (some
of whom acted in a dual management/clinical role) from the Bristol Royal
Infirmary, past and present; and staff from the local and regional health
authorities.
Some of the doctors will be recalled at later stages of the Inquiry to
answer questions specifically about clinical issues and adequacy of care.
They will not, therefore, be questioned about these matters during this
third Block.
The Inquiry’s oral hearings were opened in March by parents giving
accounts of their experiences – from their child’s original
referral through to post-surgery. Families will continue to be called
throughout the year to assist with other aspects of the Inquiry’s
investigations. During June and July, for example, they will be called
to give evidence on the issues of the retention of tissue and the split
site.
The second Block of oral evidence, which is almost complete, looked at
the national context within which the BRI functioned – including
evidence from the Department of Health, witnesses from the Supra-Regional
Services Advisory Group, Royal Colleges and professional organisations.
Block Three commenced with evidence from Mr Hugh Ross, Chief Executive,
United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust, who gave oral evidence on May 18.
He described the organisational structure and management styles at UBHT
during the period of the Inquiry’s terms of reference to the present
day.
In Block Four, the Inquiry will go on to look at the management of the
care of the children – among the issues covered will be pre-operative
care; post mortems; and dealings with parents. It is intended that this
Block will be concluded before the summer recess at the end of July.
In the autumn the fifth Block will look at the adequacy of the service
– including staff training; informed consent; medical and clinical
audit. Clinical issues will be examined in detail at this stage, following
scrutiny of children’s cases by the Inquiry’s experts.
The final Block of evidence covers concerns raised about surgical services
at the hospital between 1984 and 1995 and any failure to take appropriate
action promptly. The Inquiry’s expert witnesses will be called throughout
as necessary.
Oral hearings will be resumed on Monday June 7.
ENDS
Notes for editors: the oral hearings are held on the fifth floor
of offices at 2-10 Temple Way in Bristol. Photographic or recording equipment
– either audio or visual – is not permitted in the Inquiry chamber
or precincts on the fifth floor.
For further information please contact Becky Jarvis, Media Relations
Manager,
tel. 0117 938 8716.
May 20, 1999
BRI 99-19
INQUIRY HEARS SIXTH WEEK OF EVIDENCE
The Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry oral hearings will hear next
week from a variety of witnesses called to describe the national scene
during the period of the Inquiry’s terms of reference - 1984-1995.
On Monday May 17 (10.00 a.m.) Professor David Baum, President of the
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, will give evidence. He
will be followed by Sir Terence English, former President of the Royal
College of Surgeons for England (RCSE) and member of the Supra-Regional
Services Advisory Group (1990-192),who will complete the evidence he began
on Thursday May 13.
On Tuesday May 18 (9.30 a.m.), the Inquiry will hear from Mr Hugh Ross,
Chief Executive, United Bristol Health Care Trust (in post October 1995
to the present day).
On Wednesday May 19 (10.00 a.m.), Dr Ernest Armstrong, Secretary of the
British Medical Association, will give evidence.
On Thursday May 20 (9.30 a.m.), Professor Gareth Crompton, former Chief
Medical Officer, at the Welsh Office, will conclude the week’s hearings.
The Inquiry will be sitting to hear oral evidence in Bristol
during the rest of May on the following days,
Mon. 17 May – Thurs. 20 May and Mon. 24 May
– Tues. 25 May
ENDS
Notes for editors: the oral hearings are held on the fifth floor of
offices at 2-10 Temple Way in Bristol. Photographic or recording equipment
– either audio or visual – is not permitted in the Inquiry chamber
or precincts on the fifth floor.
For further information please contact Becky Jarvis, Media Relations
Manager, tel. 0117 938 8716.
May 14, 1999
BRI 99-18
ROYAL COLLEGES TO GIVE EVIDENCE TO INQUIRY
The Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry oral hearings resume next week with
representatives from the Royal Colleges and other professional organisations
coming to the Inquiry offices to describe the national scene during the
period of the Inquiry’s terms of reference (1984-1995).
On Monday May 10 (11.00 a.m.), Professor Leo Strunin, President of the
Royal College of Anaesthetists, will give evidence.
On Tuesday May 11 (9.30 a.m.), the Inquiry will hear from Sir Michael
Carlisle, former Chairman of the Supra-Regional Services Advisory Group
(SRSAG).
On Wednesday May 12 (11.15 a.m.), Dr Bill Reith, Honorary Secretary of
the College of General Practitioners, will give evidence.
On Thursday May 13 (10.30 a.m.), Sir Terence English, former
President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, will complete the
week’s oral hearings.
The Inquiry will be sitting to hear oral evidence in Bristol
during May on the following days:
Monday 10 May – Thursday 13 May
Monday 17 May – Thursday 20 May
Monday 24 May – Tuesday 25 May
ENDS
Notes for editors: the oral hearings are held on the fifth floor
of offices at 2-10 Temple Way in Bristol. Photographic or recording equipment
– either audio or visual – is not permitted in the Inquiry chamber
or precincts on the fifth floor. The Inquiry normally sits from Monday
to Thursday. Mondays start at 10.30am and the other days begin at 9.30am.
The Inquiry does not sit on Fridays.
For further information please contact Becky Jarvis, Media Relations
Manager, Tel. 0117 938 8716.
May 6, 1999
BRI 99-17
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