Annex A > Chapter 28 - Concerns 1993 > Concerns > Late 1993

Late 1993

78 On 23 December 1993 Professor Angelini and Professor Farndon went to see Mr Wisheart. Professor Angelini told the Inquiry:

`... the focus of the meeting was about the desirability of a new appointment of a consultant paediatric cardiac surgeon?' [85]

79 Professor Angelini later in his evidence said:

`... The purpose of the meeting was first of all to express our concern; second, the appointment of the paediatric surgeon was the resolution to the concern. It was not the other way around.' [86]

80 Professor Angelini was asked by Counsel to the Inquiry:

`Q. Was the data that you had seen from Dr Bolsin actually presented and discussed at that meeting?

`A. The data was sitting on the table between myself and Professor Farndon who were on one side facing Mr Wisheart. We did not go through in detail with the data ... .' [87]

81 Professor Farndon described the subject matter of the meeting as: `about the appointment of a paediatric cardiac surgeon.' [88] He was asked:

`Q. Was there any data from Dr Bolsin, or anyone else, about the outcomes of paediatric cardiac surgery at that meeting?

`A. Not that I remember.

`Q. Do you remember any discussion of any data?

`A. I do not. I remember that our meeting was amicable and proceeded well and it concerned the appointment of a paediatric cardiac surgeon.' [89]

82 In a comment on Professor Angelini's evidence, Mr Wisheart stated:

`This meeting took place on 23rd December 1993 for a short time at lunch time.

`The point of the meeting, as I recall it, was that Prof Angelini wished to create an appointment of a consultant paediatric cardiac surgeon and to do so as a Consultant Senior Lecturer within his department. Although I too, wished to appoint a new paediatric cardiac surgeon, and we did so during the next year, I did not feel that this was the best way to go about it.

`There was no reference to any specific figure or to Dr Bolsin's audit; there was no presentation of any figures.' [90]

83 Professor Angelini, when asked about Mr Wisheart's comment, indicated that he `stood by' his description of the meeting. [91]

84 Professor Peter Keen, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine from 1993 to 1995, in his written evidence to the Inquiry, stated:

`... in late 1993 Professor Angelini expressed his serious concerns about the standards of paediatric cardiac surgery ... we agreed that while this was a matter of concern it would not be appropriate for me as Dean to become involved and that Professor Angelini would take the matter forward.' [92]

85 Dr Sheila Willatts stated in her written evidence to the Inquiry that she had `prolonged discussions' [93] with Dr Bolsin in 1993 and in 1994. She stated that she advised:

`the issue was principally an audit one, namely that the results needed to be scrutinised, validated and agreed. During 1993 and 1994 I spoke to Professor Prys-Roberts, Professor Farndon and Chris Monk expressing my concerns that the data needed to be verified ... Professor Farndon volunteered his services as a potential chairman for such a meeting as he was not a cardiac surgeon.' [94]

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Footnotes

[85] T61 p.85 Professor Angelini

[86] T61 p.90 Professor Angelini

[87] T61 p.85 Professor Angelini

[88] T69 p.148 Professor Farndon

[89] T69 p.150 Professor Farndon

[90] WIT 0073 0104 Mr Wisheart

[91] T61 p.92 Professor Angelini

[92] WIT 0413 0001 Professor Keen

[93] WIT 0343 0002 Dr Willatts

[94] WIT 0343 0002 Dr Willatts