Log on to follow the
Inquiry
Currently, an average of 2000 people from across the
globe are visiting the Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry’s website
each day.
Visitors from 56 countries around the world have already accessed the
information on the website. Weekly reports have shown that people from
as far away as Singapore and Trinidad and Tobago are logging on to the
World Wide Web to follow the progress of the Bristol Inquiry.
Since the oral hearings began the Inquiry website has received over 180,000
visitors, with a steady monthly increase in the number of ‘hits’.
Inquiry staff have been pleased with the response to the website so far.
It seems that the most popular pages on the site are the daily transcripts
which are published only a few hours after the oral hearings are adjourned.
Witness statements too are popular and are published together with comments
and rebuttals collected from interestedparties. Later in this edition
of Inquiry News you can read about how the transcripts are produced, published
and distributed.
The Questions and Answers page has recently been updated to include the
most frequently asked questions. If there is anything else internet visitors
would like to know about the Inquiry they can make use of a new feature
on the website "Your feedback". This electronic facility enables
anyone to contact Inquiry staff to ask questions or make comments about
the Inquiry.
A new search facility has been introduced with the intention of making
it simpler for visitors to access the information they want to find. Simply
key in the word or phrase you are looking for and a list of all the instances
those words appear on the website will be displayed on screen. Double
click on the reference you are interested in and you will be taken to
the top of the relevant page. Then use the edit/find facility to locate
the phrase or words on the page. At the Inquiry we are always keen to
be as open as possible and to make information available to the public
by a variety of means. The website has proved to be a very helpful tool
in meeting this aim. If you have any suggestions for further topics you
would like to see published on the Inquiry website please contact Becky
Jarvis, Media Relations Manager on 0117 938 8716 or e-mail R.Jarvis@bri-inq.org.uk
or try using the "Your Feedback"
facility on the website.
Becky Jarvis
Media Relations Manager
Transcripts
Missed a day of the Inquiry Hearings? Don’t worry, each day’s
hearings are recorded on a daily transcript which can be found, among
other places, on our website. (www.Bristol-Inquiry.org.uk)
Two stenographers record the proceedings as they happen at about 200
words per minute. This is sent to a personal computer which is loaded
with computer-aided transcription (CAT) software. The CAT software matches
the shorthand note to a dictionary of English terms and makes an instant
translation. This process takes less than two seconds. At the same time
the other stenographer is editing the text to correct any mistakes.
Members of the Inquiry Panel, Inquiry Counsel and legal representatives
have access to a system known as LiveNote, which presents them with the
transcript as it is being typed, to enable them to either check for any
mistakes, follow the proceedings from their offices or in the case of
Inquiry Counsel to refer back to witnesses’ previous answers throughout
the day’s proceedings.
At the end of the day’s hearing the stenographers correct any typing
errors by referring back to a taped recording. This ensures that the transcripts
are as accurate as possible.
The completed transcript is then published on the website, this takes
between 2 and 3 hours depending on the length of the hearing. Any documents
that have been referred to during the hearing and displayed in the hearing
chamber will also be accessible on the website, linked to the relevant
place in the transcript. This, however, takes longer to prepare than the
transcript and the images are usually on the website the following day.
Paper copies of the transcript are produced, and at the end of each week
these and witness statements are sent to libraries and Community Health
Council offices in the South West and South Wales. These are then available
for anyone who is unable to attend the hearings in Bristol. A copy is
also placed in the Information Point in the Hearing Chamber for reference.
So far the transcripts have run to over 1000 sheets of A4 paper! This
does not include the indexing which is added to each transcript for easy
reference and it does not include any witness statements.
Witness statements are also published on the website but not until we
have received all interested party comments or rebuttals – that is,
a response from anyone who is criticised or mentioned in the statement.
They are also amended to ensure no confidential information, such as addresses,
is published.
Rachel Gibbons
Communications Officer
Oral Hearings in July
The third Block of evidence which began with the evidence of Mr Hugh
Ross on May 18, continues this month to look at the Bristol services –
questions are focussed on management issues relating to the Bristol Services,
including how they were set up and how they were managed. Witnesses have
included 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 health authorities.
So far we have heard from a former Chairman, Executive Directors, Senior
Managers and Nursing staff. In early July we will hear from Mr James Wisheart
in his capacity as Trust Medical Director. Block Three will be completed
in July.
Mr Wisheart will be recalled at a later stage of the Inquiry, during
the fifth Block of evidence, to answer questions specifically about clinical
issues and concerns. He will not, therefore, be questioned about surgical
expertise or particular children’s cases during the third Block.
During July the Inquiry will include two weeks focussing on ‘Statistics’
and ‘Tissue Retention’.
In the week commencing 12 July the Inquiry will begin to look in detail
at data sources relating to activity and outcomes of surgery both nationally
and at the Bristol Royal Infirmary.
Also in that week, but mainly between 19-22 July, the Inquiry will focus
on areas surrounding post-mortem examination and retention of tissue for
research purposes. At this time parents will have an opportunity to tell
their experiences about this issue. Witnesses will also be called from
national bodies and from United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust.
The Inquiry oral hearings will break for a summer recess on Thursday
22 July and resume on Monday 6 September. During the adjournment of the
oral hearings work will continue collecting witness statements, reading
and checking evidence and preparing the witness programme for the autumn.
The Inquiry Information Pack has been recently
updated; it includes useful information which will help visitors to the
Inquiry to make full use of the facilities available. If you would like
a copy please call Rachel Gibbons on 0117 938 8711
Contacting the Inquiry...
If you want general information about the Inquiry please call either
Becky Jarvis, Media Relations Manager on 0117 938 8716 or Rachel Gibbons,
Communications Officer on 0117 938 8711.
There is also a contact number if you wish to speak to someone from the
legal team. Please call Lisa Biddlecombe on 0117 938 8737.
If you wish to contact the Secretary to the Inquiry please call 0117
938 8715.
The Inquiry fax numbers are:
0117 938 8790 Legal Offices
or
0117 938 8789 Secretariat and Communications Team.
CONTACT US IN CONFIDENCE
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY TO THE INQUIRY?
ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT COMING FORWARD?
YOU CAN CONTACT THE INQUIRY SOLICITOR, PETER WHITEHURST IN CONFIDENCE
BY WRITING TO OUR FREEPOST ADDRESS OPPOSITE.
Internet Website:
www.Bristol-Inquiry.org.uk/
E-mail: inquiry@doh.gov.uk
Telephone: 0845 3000 613
(calls charged at local rate)
Fax: 0171 972 4602
FREEPOST ADDRESS:
Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry
Freepost, (SWB1115), Bristol, BS2 OZZ
No stamp is required.
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