Annex A > Chapter 16 - Support and Counselling > Helen Vegoda

Helen Vegoda

Background to the appointment

164 Dr Joffe, consultant paediatric cardiologist, informed the Inquiry:

`In the mid 1980s, I became aware of the need for counselling of cardiac patients and their families at BCH during times of crisis. This occurred when the diagnosis of serious congenital heart disease was first confirmed, especially in newborn babies; and when children were admitted for cardiac catheterisation or closed-heart surgery. I anticipated that a counsellor could also support families with children undergoing open-heart surgery. With the financial support of Mrs Jean Pratten and the Bristol and South West Children's Heart Circle, the post was developed and advertised.' [204]

165 Ms Stoneham wrote to Mr John Watson [205] in March 1987, [206] enclosing a paper entitled `Counsellor in Paediatric Cardiology' [207] setting out a proposal for the establishment of this post. She had already discussed the proposal with Mr Graham Nix, Director of Finance and Deputy Chief Executive of the UBHT. The proposal was that the funding of the post for the first two years was to be undertaken by the Bristol and South West Children's Heart Circle.

166 The proposal was that if, after two years, it was shown to fill a real need, an application would be made to the DHSS, through the SWRHA for funding (the salary for the post being £12, 500) on a permanent basis as part of the supra regional service.

167 Ms Stoneham stated:

`As I recall, at this time, funding constraints prevented managers from allowing such developments. The Cardiac Counsellor post, however, was initially to be funded by voluntary monies from The Heart Circle. Nevertheless, I had to seek the permission of John Watson, Central Unit Manager, before recruiting for this appointment. Once in post it was very probable that a cardiac counsellor would become part of the established service, which would ultimately have to be funded by the Authority. [208]

`This was not the top priority but it was high on the agenda. It was recognised as being necessary as there was an increasing concern about the amount of stress people were under. This did not just relate to the cardiac unit, but to the hospital as a whole.' [209]

168 Mr Watson replied to the proposal on 18 May 1987. [210] He stated that he was only prepared to accept the proposed post if the Heart Circle funded it in full. Referring to Ms Stoneham's letter, he told the Inquiry that it, and a letter from Dr Marianne Pitman [211] to Mr Nix dated 10 July 1987, [212] brought the need for a counsellor and the question of funding to his attention:

`This was eventually achieved through liaison with the South West Heart Circle, who gave us the go-ahead for funding for such a counsellor. This reinforced the work already done on an informal basis by the nursing staff.

`I was predominantly dependent upon people such as Marion Stoneham to bring to my attention an assessment of the need for such a counsellor, partly by virtue of liaising with staff and parents about the needs of parents and families with sick children in the Unit.' [213]

169 On 18 June 1987 Mr Nix wrote to Dr Pitman providing details of the counsellor post and stating that unless a permanent arrangement could be made with the DHSS for funding, it had been decided that the appointment could not proceed. [214]

`Dr Pitman replied on 10 July 1987, that the cost of a counsellor had been included in the 1988-1989 bid for neonatal and infant cardiac surgery. [215]

170 The draft annual programme for B&WDHA confirmed that the counsellor was to be appointed: `costing £12, 000 per annum'. [216]

171 The need for the post was stressed in the BRHSC and BRI `Annual Report' for 1987 [217] that recorded that the post of counsellor was `finally' established at the end of 1987 to address the `urgent need for emotional and psychological support'. It was reported to be the first such post in the country, and made possible through a donation from the Heart Circle and funding from the Supra Regional Services budget.

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Footnotes

[204] WIT 0097 0316 Dr Joffe

[205] Management Consultant and Business Psychologist; he was General Manager of the Central Unit, B&WDHA, from February 1986; from late 1989 to early 1990 he acted as leader of the DHA purchaser team; he moved to the Avon FHSA, becoming its Chief Executive in March 1990. He was the budget holder for the Central Unit; see WIT 0298 0002. Hospitals in his charge included the BRI and the BRHSC. He met his hospital managers at least once a month, including Ms Stoneham as manager of the BRHSC; see WIT 0298 0005 Mr Watson

[206] UBHT 0278 0347; letter dated 12 March 1987

[207] UBHT 0278 0335 - 0338 ; `Counsellor in Paediatric Cardiology'

[208] WIT 0149 0029 Ms Stoneham

[209] WIT 0149 0029 Ms Stoneham

[210] UBHT 0062 0307; letter dated 18 May 1987 from Mr Watson to Ms Stoneham

[211] Specialist in Community Medicine/Consultant in Public Health Medicine, 1980-1996, SWRHA

[212] UBHT 0062 0323; letter dated 10 July 1987 from Dr Pitman to Mr Nix

[213] WIT 0298 0031 Mr Watson

[214] UBHT 0062 0319; letter dated 18 June 1987 from Mr Nix to Dr Pitman

[215] UBHT 0062 0323; letter dated 10 July 1987 from Dr Pitman to Mr Nix

[216] HAA 0055 0002; draft annual programme, B&WDHA, August 1987

[217] HAA 0137 0011; BRHSC and BRI `Annual Report', 1987