Annex A > Chapter 11 - Referrals > Referrals to Bristol from South Wales > Parents' requests

Parents' requests

198 Evidence from Welsh-based parents whose children were referred to Bristol reflected the same issues as mentioned earlier in the case of parents based in England.

199 Samantha Harris, whose daughter Kimberley was referred from the Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend, to Bristol, said:

`The staff informed me that they had decided to transfer Kimberley to Bristol, in an ambulance, since there was a specialist heart unit there. I was not very pleased that this hospital had been selected, since it would have been much easier for me to go to London, where I have relatives. I also knew that hospitals such as Great Ormond Street had an excellent reputation, whereas I had never heard of the unit at Bristol before. ... At no time was it explained to me that I had any choice in the matter ...' [210]

200 Robert Briggs, whose daughter Laura was also referred from the Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend, to Bristol, said:

`It was the Consultant's decision to refer her to Bristol, and no alternative referrals were discussed with us, but we had no problems with that decision either at the time or at any subsequent time. We were simply told that it was the nearest hospital that dealt with children with severe heart problems.' [211]

201 Carol Colclough, whose son Andrew was referred to Bristol from the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, said:

`Mr Ferguson [Dr Ferguson] [212] recommended that Andrew be referred to Bristol for specialist attention and consideration for surgery. He recommended Bristol, and at that time there was no other specialist centre in South Wales. Later in 1991 a Specialist Unit was opened at the Heath Hospital in Cardiff but that option did not exist for us at the time and we were content enough to go to Bristol to get the necessary treatment. No other alternatives, such as London, were mentioned to us, but Mr Ferguson seemed very happy with Bristol, and we were content to go along with his recommendation.' [213]

202 Gail Booth, whose daughter Elisa was referred to Bristol from the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, said:

`... they thought she may have a problem with her heart and that she would be transferred to Bristol. The staff told me that Bristol was one of the best heart hospitals in the whole country.' [214]

203 A parent explained that her child was referred from Neath General Hospital to Hammersmith. However, she said:

`When Dr Hallidie-Smith retired, [the child] was referred from Hammersmith Hospital to Bristol Children's Hospital. We were simply notified that this was what was to happen.' [215]

204 Some parents were given a choice, together with an opinion from the paediatrician as to the respective standards of the alternative centres. Caroline Jones, mother of Matthew, said that Dr Palit saw him at Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest:

`He gave us the choice of sending Matthew either to Bristol or to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. Dr Palit told us that the unit at Bristol had a good reputation and was on a par with Great Ormond Street. Because of this recommendation, and because Bristol is nearer, we chose Bristol.' [216]

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Footnotes

[210] WIT 0302 0004 Samantha Harris

[211] WIT 0136 0002 Robert Briggs

[212] Consultant paediatrician, Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport

[213] WIT 0176 0002 Carol Colclough

[214] WIT 0410 0001 Gail Booth

[215] WIT 0216 0003. This parent was one of a number of parents who gave a witness statement to the Inquiry and gave only partial consent to publication of the statement, as they did not wish to be publicly identified

[216] WIT 0238 0002 - 0003 Caroline Jones