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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Report slams hospital's shortage | Report slams hospital's shortage |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Children facing heart surgery in Bristol could be at risk because of a lack of specialists, a report claims. | Children facing heart surgery in Bristol could be at risk because of a lack of specialists, a report claims. |
| It comes after baby Abbie Hattam died in May 2006 when a member of staff made a mistake during a heart operation. | It comes after baby Abbie Hattam died in May 2006 when a member of staff made a mistake during a heart operation. |
| Now the head of the cardiac unit at the Children's Hospital is leaving over his claims the trust tried to stop him speaking out about the staff shortage. | |
| The United Bristol Healthcare Trust (UBHT) has denied any suggestion that it tried to intimidate Ash Pawade. | The United Bristol Healthcare Trust (UBHT) has denied any suggestion that it tried to intimidate Ash Pawade. |
| The hospital has said it was unfortunate Mr Pawade was leaving on grounds of ill health. | |
| 'Potential conflict' | 'Potential conflict' |
| The report says there are still not enough perfusionists at the hospital. | The report says there are still not enough perfusionists at the hospital. |
| The hospital says it has an action plan to put in place adequate cover. | |
| A perfusionist is a blood circulation specialist who operates heart and lung bypass equipment during surgery to keep the patient alive while the surgeon repairs the heart. | A perfusionist is a blood circulation specialist who operates heart and lung bypass equipment during surgery to keep the patient alive while the surgeon repairs the heart. |
| The original investigation after Abbie's death said there were not enough perfusionists. | The original investigation after Abbie's death said there were not enough perfusionists. |
| Now, three years on, the review of the cardiac unit at the hospital says nothing has changed. The review says while results are still good, there is still a shortage of perfusionists which means the few at the hospital have to cover both adult and child theatres with 'potential conflict'. | Now, three years on, the review of the cardiac unit at the hospital says nothing has changed. The review says while results are still good, there is still a shortage of perfusionists which means the few at the hospital have to cover both adult and child theatres with 'potential conflict'. |
| I felt very vulnerable and psychologically that broke my back Ash Pawade | I felt very vulnerable and psychologically that broke my back Ash Pawade |
| Ash Pawade told the BBC: "I maintained throughout the inquest that there were critical shortages within the perfusion department. | Ash Pawade told the BBC: "I maintained throughout the inquest that there were critical shortages within the perfusion department. |
| "Management maintained the stance that that wasn't an issue. Things finally came to a head during the weekend after Abbie's inquest. | "Management maintained the stance that that wasn't an issue. Things finally came to a head during the weekend after Abbie's inquest. |
| "Bad things were conveyed to me from somebody high up within the trust. Vile things which I can't repeat for legal reasons. | "Bad things were conveyed to me from somebody high up within the trust. Vile things which I can't repeat for legal reasons. |
| "I felt very vulnerable and psychologically that broke my back." | "I felt very vulnerable and psychologically that broke my back." |
| But the trust has denied it tried to intimidate Mr Pawade. | But the trust has denied it tried to intimidate Mr Pawade. |
| UBHT spokesman Dr Jonathan Sheffield said: "Mr Pawade took out a grievance about something that actually when reflected upon in the grievance it was him that contacted the individual concerned out of hours at that person's home address. | UBHT spokesman Dr Jonathan Sheffield said: "Mr Pawade took out a grievance about something that actually when reflected upon in the grievance it was him that contacted the individual concerned out of hours at that person's home address. |
| "We are puzzled why he believes that that should be an example of intimidation." | "We are puzzled why he believes that that should be an example of intimidation." |
| Good results | Good results |
| The report also criticises management for the way they handled events surrounding Abbie's death. | The report also criticises management for the way they handled events surrounding Abbie's death. |
| The report says there is widespread feeling that management did not handle Abbie's death well and adds that morale is still low. | The report says there is widespread feeling that management did not handle Abbie's death well and adds that morale is still low. |
| It adds Mr Pawade's departure gives an impression of a surgical unit that lacks direction and says the lack of perfusionists could put the small number of patients who need heart bypasses for days on end, at risk. | It adds Mr Pawade's departure gives an impression of a surgical unit that lacks direction and says the lack of perfusionists could put the small number of patients who need heart bypasses for days on end, at risk. |
| It concludes there is significant concern that good results are masking a number of problems, which if not resolved, will impact on patient care. | It concludes there is significant concern that good results are masking a number of problems, which if not resolved, will impact on patient care. |