Annex A > Chapter 16 - Support and Counselling > The Bristol and South West Children's Heart Circle
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The Bristol and South West Children's Heart Circle
Background
66 Mrs Pratten was the founder of the Bristol and South West Children's Heart Circle. She told the Inquiry that the Heart Circle was founded in 1972 `to help parents of children with Heart Disease help one another, particularly when faced with the problems of Cardiac Surgery' and `to provide amenities and equipment not funded by the NHS'. [75]
67 She stated in her evidence to the Inquiry that in 1969, when her daughter underwent open-heart surgery at the BRI:
`There was minimal support for parents and at that time no specialised Cardiac Unit. Children were admitted to a Paediatric Orthopaedic Ward and Intensive Care was a two-bedded side ward attached to a Women's Surgical Ward.' [76]
`In 1970 I started discussions with medical staff to look into the viability of such a group and became the first secretary ...' [77]
`Membership of the Heart Circle is open to all families who wish to be on the mailing list, and in 1997 there were over 1, 000 families ... There is no subscription. The Heart Circle also helps all families whether or not they are members. [78]
`Local branches were set up [79] so that families could meet together locally. Social and fundraising activities were organised and medical staff from Bristol visited each group from time to time to speak on their speciality to help families gain more understanding of the problem and feel more involved with Bristol.' [80]
69 She explained how, initially, it was she who provided support and counselling to families:
`Following the opening of the Cardiac Surgery Unit in 1972 I was invited to visit the unit at least once a week to talk to families and staff, and this continued at the Bristol Children's Hospital until I retired. Certainly at this stage the role of providing the care and support to the families was something that I undertook on my own ... I was able to talk through issues with the parents and ensure that particular areas of concern were appropriately addressed by relevant medical staff. I was also able to identify parents' needs. Frequently I had parents in my home on the day of their child's surgery to while away the time, and this continued until the volume of work increased and the first accommodation for parents was opened in 1978 ...' [81]
70 She referred to the commencement of the involvement of social workers:
`In the late 1970s Mrs Edna Culverhouse was appointed full-time Medical Social Worker on Ward 5. Her personal commitment to families was outstanding. She could be found on the Unit at any time of the day or night when the need arose. She continued in post for some five years or so, and after she left, there was only part-time social work support due to lack of resources, and her high standard was never again matched.' [82]
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Footnotes
[75] WIT 0269 0001 Mrs Pratten
[76] WIT 0269 0001 Mrs Pratten
[77] WIT 0269 0001 - 0002 Mrs Pratten
[78] WIT 0269 0002 Mrs Pratten
[79] The branches were in Cornwall, North Devon, South Devon, Somerset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Mid-Glamorgan
[80] WIT 0269 0002 Mrs Pratten
[81] WIT 0269 0002 - 0003 Mrs Pratten
[82] WIT 0269 0003 Mrs Pratten