Annex A > Chapter 16 - Support and Counselling > Helen Vegoda > Appointment
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Appointment
176 Mrs Vegoda told the Inquiry:
`I in fact knew Dr Joffe and he telephoned me one day and discussed the idea that he wanted to help create a post that would support the needs of parents, of families. I believe he asked whether I would come in [for] a meeting with Jean Pratten. I think Professor David Baum as well. This was a fairly informal meeting, just to look at the idea of setting up such a post.
`I did that. ... Then there was the formal application and the formal interview. I always understood that the post was, I believe, part funded by the Heart Circle for, I think, two years, but was also part funded by the Health Authority ...
`My understanding was that Dr Joffe had already discussed the idea of having some sort of support counselling role, which I believe he had already discussed with Jean Pratten, and possibly other people. I think he was really picking my brains at that stage. I do not even know whether he was aware that I might apply for it.' [227]
177 Mrs Vegoda took up post in January 1988. [228]
178 Mrs Pratten, who was on the interview panel, told the Inquiry:
`I ... felt that Helen Vegoda did not have the necessary qualifications for the job, but at the end of the day, we did not take part in the voting for the job because we felt it very difficult, as a voluntary organisation that had never become part of the politics of the hospital, to give our vote ... Though we were going to fund the post, we were not going to employ the post.' [229]
Asked what qualifications she felt the post required she said:
`Certainly hospital experience. I would have thought nursing experience, or certainly awareness of a cardiac situation, of cardiac children and their needs, and the stresses that the parents go through.' [230]
179 However, she did not criticise Mrs Vegoda's approach to the job. She said:
`Helen Vegoda played a very useful part in supporting families. There were families who certainly were helped by knowing her, but the qualifications for that post were not met ... I would not criticise her dedication in any way.' [231]
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Footnotes
[228] WIT 0192 0002 Mrs Vegoda