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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| 'Children at risk' over shortage | 'Children at risk' over shortage |
| (1 day 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. |
| An inquiry into her death said there were not enough blood circulation specialists, and now a report has found there is still a shortage. | An inquiry into her death said there were not enough blood circulation specialists, and now a report has found there is still a shortage. |
| Bristol's Children's Hospital said it has a plan for adequate cover and no children were at risk. | Bristol's Children's Hospital said it has a plan for adequate cover and no children were at risk. |
| 'Potential conflict' | 'Potential conflict' |
| After Abbie's death an investigation said there were not enough perfusionists - blood circulation specialists who operate heart and lung bypass equipment during surgery. | After Abbie's death an investigation said there were not enough perfusionists - blood circulation specialists who operate heart and lung bypass equipment during surgery. |
| And now a report, which was commissioned by the United Bristol Healthcare Trust (UBHT) as part of its programme of review and improvement, said that while results were still good, there was still a shortage of perfusionists at the hospital which meant the few there had to cover both adult and child theatres with "potential conflict". | And now a report, which was commissioned by the United Bristol Healthcare Trust (UBHT) as part of its programme of review and improvement, said that while results were still good, there was still a shortage of perfusionists at the hospital which meant the few there had to cover both adult and child theatres with "potential conflict". |
| Ash Pawade, 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 shortage. | Ash Pawade, 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 shortage. |
| He told the BBC: "I maintained throughout the inquest that there were critical shortages within the perfusion department. | He 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." |
| Low morale | Low morale |
| The trust denied it tried to intimidate Mr Pawad and said he was leaving on grounds of ill health. | |
| 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." |
| The Paediatric Cardiac review also criticised management for the way they handled events surrounding Abbie's death and said morale was still low. | The Paediatric Cardiac review also criticised management for the way they handled events surrounding Abbie's death and said morale was still low. |
| It said Mr Pawade's departure gave an impression of a surgical unit that lacked direction and the lack of perfusionists could put the small number of patients who needed heart bypasses for days on end at risk. | It said Mr Pawade's departure gave an impression of a surgical unit that lacked direction and the lack of perfusionists could put the small number of patients who needed heart bypasses for days on end at risk. |
| The review concluded there was significant concern that good results were masking a number of problems, which if not resolved, will impact on patient care. | The review concluded there was significant concern that good results were masking a number of problems, which if not resolved, will impact on patient care. |