Annex A > Chapter 29 - Concerns 1994 > Concerns > February
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February
20 Dr Bolsin replied to Dr Ashwell's, Senior Medical Officer, DoH, letter of 13 December 1993 on 10 February 1994. [27] He wrote:
`Thank you very much indeed for the letter you sent me immediately after the Audit Meeting at the Royal College of Anaesthetists last year. Professor Farndon, Professor Angelini and myself have made considerable progress with the matters of concern that we discussed. There is now in place a programme for the appointment of a new paediatric cardiac surgeon and a commitment from the highest levels of the Trust to improve and maintain performance. There would seem to be little benefit from any further investigation from your end at this stage although this should not be ruled out if words are not converted speedily into actions.
`I am most grateful to you for your intervention in this matter and I am convinced that you have significantly helped in the resolution of what was an unacceptable clinical practice.' [28]
21 Professor Angelini told the Inquiry that he began to raise concerns with Dr Roylance at about that time:
`Q. How many meetings did you have with Dr Roylance?
`A. I cannot recollect, but I guess at least two from the end of 1993 to March 1994 - at least two.
`A. At the first one there was nobody except myself and Dr Roylance. At the second one there was Dr Monk and after that, there were several other meetings, but with many other people present, like all the cardiac surgeons; or another one, we had a meeting towards the August of 1994 with Mr McKinlay [29] in his office, Professor Farndon and myself, and Mr McKinlay called Dr Roylance in. So there were several meetings, but always with lots of other people involved.
`Q. Let us look at the period in the early months of 1994, shall we, before the letter that you and Professor Farndon wrote to Mr Durie? [30] Can we confine ourselves to the meeting between -
`A. I think there were definitely two meetings, one on my own and one in the presence of Dr Monk.
`Q. I think you told the GMC [General Medical Council] that you had at least two meetings on your own?
`A. I cannot remember. It may have been one or two. I do not have any evidence to support one or the other.
`Q. There is no written material evidencing what was discussed at any of these meetings; is that right?
`Q. No contemporaneous correspondence either from you or Dr Roylance?
`A. No... In fact the first letter I wrote on this matter was when Peter Durie asked me. Then I became very [aware] of the need to write a letter and I wished I had written twice as many.' [31]
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Footnotes
[27] See Chapter 28
[28] UBHT 0061 0270; letter dated 10 February 1994
[29] Chairman, UBHT from July 1994 to November 1996
[30] Mr Peter Durie was Chairman of the UBHT from April 1991-June 1994