Annex A > Chapter 27 - Concerns 1992 > Concerns > Concerns of the theatre nurses
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Concerns of the theatre nurses
166 Mrs Mona Herborn, a sister in cardiac theatres at the BRI from 1988 to 1998, stated in her written evidence to the Inquiry:
`... for me personally, I began to have a real problem with the arterial switch operation around this time, about 1992. This was because the poor outcomes were too frequent. By this time I was also much more aware of Dr Bolsin's activities, and we often talked about them. We discussed the length of operations and complications during operations. I cannot say that I knew every detail, but he told me he had expressed his concerns at very high levels, and also that he had Professor Angelini as an ally. When these operations continued in spite of this, I felt quite helpless.' [207]
167 In her written evidence to the Inquiry Kay Armstrong, cardiac theatre sister, stated:
`As a theatre nurse at the BRI during the relevant period, I was concerned by each child who failed to survive the complex paediatric cardiac surgery performed by the two consultants at the time, Mr Dhasmana and Mr Wisheart. My "concern" was a human response to the death of each child. It was extremely difficult scrubbing for a surgical procedure where a child was involved when, by virtue of the complexity of the cardiac surgery, the child's chances of survival might be poor and yet we had to try to operate successfully. ... My "concern" at that stage was a sense of regret that these children did not survive.' [208]
`Sometime in 1992 (I do not recall the specific time) Dr Bolsin began to comment on the difference between the outcomes of paediatric cardiac surgery at the BRI, and outcomes at other units. He showed me results of the switch operations and also AV canal repairs from several units.' [209]
`There was a period between 1992 and 1994 when, with Dr Bolsin's concerns gathering momentum, I became increasingly worried about the surgery being performed. I dreaded seeing complex paediatric cardiac surgery scheduled when I was due to scrub.' [210]
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Footnotes
[207] WIT 0255 0014 Mrs Herborn
[208] WIT 0132 0055 Ms Armstrong
[209] WIT 0132 0055 - 0056 Ms Armstrong
[210] WIT 0132 0057 Ms Armstrong