Annex A > Chapter 16 - Support and Counselling > Role and responsibilities of UBH/T staff > Staff generally
<< previous | next >>
Staff generally
59 Ms Joyce Woodcraft [65] told the Inquiry:
`Some nurses and doctors will find it very difficult to hide their own emotions on the death of any patient. This is particularly true of a baby or child that has been "specialed" by a nurse for a long period of time. A more senior nurse may take over parental support if this was deemed necessary, but did not happen frequently in my experience.' [66]
60 The Reverend Robert Yeomans, [67] in common with others, stressed the demands placed on staff working in paediatric cardiac care. He told the Inquiry:
`I felt staff showed immense sensitivity when dealing with parents and were supportive every step of the way. They provided comfort throughout and became involved in all cases. Staff too, were upset when patients died, and may have found it difficult because of their own grief or lack of experience, to give parents what they wanted at the time. It can be very difficult to anticipate and give what bereaved parents want in their grief, distress and anger, when, at that moment of time, they may be inconsolable.' [68]
61 The Reverend Yeomans explained that, whilst ordinarily the work of hospital chaplains is supported by volunteers, this was not felt to be appropriate for Ward 5:
`Volunteers are seen as the vanguard of the Chaplaincy services, to ensure that everyone is visited on every ward where possible. It was felt that volunteers were needed to assess both spiritual and religious needs and they thus were an important part of the process ...
`We did not have any volunteers on Ward 5 during the period to [the] end of 1995. I felt that the particular demands, both in respect of experience and skills would be too demanding ...' [69]
62 Likewise Mr MacIntosh told the Inquiry:
`I have no recollection of any specific instance when I was aware of feeling a concern about the sensitivity of staff dealing with such parents. I would however, be very surprised if there were not occasions when the stress and severity of the situation blunted the capacity of staff to give sufficient time in order to be sensitive.' [70]
63 Sarah Appleton [71] said:
`My impression was that nurses were caring towards parents and children within the context of working in a highly stressed environment ...' [72]
`I cannot rule out the possibility of occasional personality clashes which may have interfered with the counselling process, but if a nurse was finding certain parents difficult to relate to they would hand their support over to another staff member, involving one of the two Helens in the situation ...
`I believe our staff shows great sensitivity in their dealings with parents of very ill children. As a manager, I had no complaints about individual nurses. I received many thank-you letters and I believe many nurses had letters from families they had supported.' [73]
`... in my experience ... I did not ever witness instances of insensitivity ... on the part of nurses or of doctors. Some situations were certainly very upsetting for the medical staff ... my overall impression was that even in the circumstances that could be difficult for all concerned the staff were genuinely giving of their best.' [74]
<< previous | next >> | back to top
Footnotes
[65] Senior Sister, BRHSC ICU 1985-1994
[66] WIT 0121 0020 Ms Woodcraft
[67] Spiritual and Religious Advisor to UBH/T
[68] WIT 0274 0009 Rev Yeomans
[69] WIT 0274 0005 - 0006 Rev Yeomans
[70] WIT 0401 0006 Mr MacIntosh
[71] Social Worker, BRI 1989-1994
[72] WIT 0385 0007 Ms Appleton
[73] WIT 0213 0051 - 0052 Julia Thomas
[74] WIT 0269 0012 Mrs Pratten