Annex A > Chapter 16 - Support and Counselling > Role and responsibilities of UBH/T staff > Cardiologists
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Cardiologists
52 In his written evidence to the Inquiry, Dr Joffe said that:
`On occasions, when I learned that a patient of mine at BRI was critically ill, I made every effort to see the parents. If a child died, I was always ready to arrange to talk to the parents at a mutually suitable time, if requested by the surgeons or the parents themselves.' [54]
`At BCH, as far as I am aware, the majority of staff were sensitive and understanding of parents who were under stress ...' [55]
In his oral evidence he touched on bereavement while dealing with the issue of communication with parents:
`I believe it comes with experience of being with people and unfortunately I have had to be part of the process, not only of informing people of the total picture but also of being present at bereavement situations and inevitably there will be a difference of opinion about how that should be handled. But I think one does one's best in one's own perception of the requirement.' [56]
And then the following exchange:
`Q. You mentioned the question of bereavement and what one says in respect of bereavement which puts the clinician dealing with bereavement in a very difficult position because you do not know really how to deal with the news, I suspect, except by having done it in a number of distressing circumstances over a period of years?
`Q. The fact of death must, I suspect, be distressing to the clinician even if not as distressing as it is to the parent?
`A. Undoubtedly, yes.' [57]
53 Dr Houston, consultant paediatric cardiologist and Expert to the Inquiry, added:
`I think nowadays the students get some training in this, but certainly when I qualified we did not, we worked with our colleagues and you would know how various colleagues put things and you would learn from that and decide how you did it yourself.' [58]
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Footnotes
[54] WIT 0097 0317 Dr Joffe
[55] WIT 0097 0318 Dr Joffe