Annex A > Chapter 16 - Support and Counselling > Helen Vegoda > Comment on the service provided by Helen Vegoda
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Comment on the service provided by Helen Vegoda
209 The 1987 `Annual Report' for the BRHSC and BRI recorded that Mrs Vegoda and her counselling service had become:
`... an integral and most valued part of the unit'. [268]
210 Mr Wisheart commented on Mrs Vegoda's contribution:
`She played an invaluable role in supporting the parents in many different ways.' [269]
211 As to the reaction of the parents to her role, she said that she received continued feedback which was appreciative, including over 200 letters which:
`... suggest that my support to cardiac families, both met many of their needs, and was valued and appreciated'. [270]
212 Mrs Vegoda was asked about the survey that she conducted in the first half of 1993, [271] in which she studied the level of information and support being given to families attending, specifically, for catheterisation at the BRHSC. The findings [272] were that at the time of initial diagnosis, 45% responded that they did get support from the hospital source, 53% did not, and of those who did not get support, 25% said they would have liked it. Counsel to the Inquiry asked whether the document painted a picture of parents who, in 1993, were still not gaining access to, or were not aware of, the support that Mrs Vegoda could give them within the BRHSC.
`Clearly it must do, and I can only surmise, looking back at this stage, that that could have been for a number of reasons. It could be that there were some families who had not been to Bristol before and either were not aware that I existed or possibly were sent a leaflet and did not take particular note of it. There may have been other reasons, but, yes, clearly there were families who were not aware.' [273]
214 The study recommended [274] that professionals and families be made more aware of the counsellor, that information be posted at the BRHSC, and that the availability of counselling should be more widely advertised. In evidence, Mrs Vegoda spoke again about the need for her to be proactive. She said:
`I have to say that most of the impetus [in advertising the post] would have been left to me. I had to be very proactive about finding ways in which health professionals or parents or voluntary organisations knew about my existence, and I do certainly remember feeling slightly overwhelmed by the fact that the South West was a very large area ... I was very aware that there was not necessarily a consistent structure by which I could make sure that all GPs or all health visitors, for example, knew that my post existed. That actually felt rather overwhelming, outside my grasp.' [275]
215 Parents commented on the support they received from Mrs Vegoda whilst at
the UBH/T.
216 Jayne and Richard Leonard, parents of Katie:
`We do recall that Helen Vegoda, a Cardiac Counsellor at BCH, came to see us to help with anything she could. She advised us on reading material and made it quite clear that she was always available for chats if we felt we needed to speak to her.' [276]
217 Amanda Evans, mother of Joshua:
`Helen Vegoda ... talked about the hospital in very positive terms, and gave us confidence in the establishment. She helped us to sort out some forms, and went through various details of our stay with us. She said that, if we needed anyone, she was there for us.' [277]
I found [Helen Vegoda] extremely patronising and not at all supportive.' [278]
219 Marie Edwards, mother of Jazmine:
`I found her extremely irritating, patronising and unhelpful.' [279]
220 Kenneth and Susan Darbyshire, parents of Oliver:
`Helen Vegoda ... was there from day one giving us moral support at all times. Also she would do the ward rounds with the doctors, every single morning, Monday to Friday. She had this uncanny knack of always popping up when parents were feeling stressed out. She was a real tower of strength to all the heart baby parents.' [280]
221 Alison Leeming, mother of Jamie:
`We also met Helen Vegoda who we thought was an excellent counsellor and a lovely woman.' [281]
222 Michelle Cummings, mother of Charlotte:
`Helen Vegoda was available at all critical times throughout Charlotte's stay in the BRI and the Bristol Children's Hospital ... her support and assistance and comfort were tremendous.' [282]
223 Robert Briggs, father of Laura:
`... she was helpful. One thing she did was to arrange for us to meet with the parent of a child who had had similar surgery and who had come through successfully, and again this was reassuring to us.' [283]
224 Robert Langston, father of Oliver:
`On the day that Oliver died, Helen Vegoda was there for us all the time. She was brilliant all the way through. She helped me get everything in perspective, and also helped us practically with things like arranging the death certificate.' [284]
225 Many parents commented positively about Mrs Vegoda's cards and telephone calls after they had left the hospital(s). [285]
226 Lynne Lloyd, mother of Kate:
`Helen Vegoda ... sent me a "Thinking of You" card for the next five years on Kate's birthday and the anniversary of her death. I found this very comforting.' [286]
227 Paul Bradley, father of Bethan:
`Helen Vegoda kept in regular contact with us ... For several years, she remembered to send a card on the anniversary of Bethan's death. She also invited us to a Heart Children's Remembrance Service held once a year. This was deeply appreciated.' [287]
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Footnotes
[268] HAA 0138 0006; BRHSC and BRI `Annual Report', 1987
[269] WIT 0120 0230 Mr Wisheart
[270] WIT 0192 0246 Mrs Vegoda
[271] WIT 0192 0065 Mrs Vegoda
[272] WIT 0192 0072 Mrs Vegoda
[274] WIT 0192 0078 Mrs Vegoda
[276] WIT 0367 0004 - 0005 Jayne and Richard Leonard
[277] WIT 0417 0009 Amanda Evans
[278] WIT 0408 0007. 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
[279] WIT 0414 0008 Marie Edwards
[280] WIT 0125 0006 Kenneth Darbyshire
[281] WIT 0537 0004 Alison Leeming
[282] WIT 0123 0025 Michelle Cummings
[283] WIT 0136 0004 Robert Briggs
[284] WIT 0184 0012 Robert Langston
[285] See, for example, Tracey Morgan, mother of Daniel, WIT 0288 0011 and Alison Havenhand, mother of Victoria, WIT 0244 0014
[286] WIT 0225 0011 Lynne Lloyd
[287] WIT 0229 0023 Paul Bradley