Whistleblower in Bristol case says funding was put before patients
C Dyer - 1999 - bmj.com
C Dyer
1999•bmj.comStephen Bolsin, the anaesthetist who blew the whistle about serious problems with
paediatric heart surgery at the Bristol Royal Infirmary, claimed this week that patients were
sacrificed to keep government funding. He believed that the infirmary's wish to keep its
designation as a specialist heart facility was a main reason for the failure to act over his
concerns about poor outcomes, he told the public inquiry looking into children's heart
surgery at Bristol. Dr Bolsin, who flew to Britain from his job in Australia to give evidence, told …
paediatric heart surgery at the Bristol Royal Infirmary, claimed this week that patients were
sacrificed to keep government funding. He believed that the infirmary's wish to keep its
designation as a specialist heart facility was a main reason for the failure to act over his
concerns about poor outcomes, he told the public inquiry looking into children's heart
surgery at Bristol. Dr Bolsin, who flew to Britain from his job in Australia to give evidence, told …
Stephen Bolsin, the anaesthetist who blew the whistle about serious problems with paediatric heart surgery at the Bristol Royal Infirmary, claimed this week that patients were sacrificed to keep government funding. He believed that the infirmary’s wish to keep its designation as a specialist heart facility was a main reason for the failure to act over his concerns about poor outcomes, he told the public inquiry looking into children’s heart surgery at Bristol.
Dr Bolsin, who flew to Britain from his job in Australia to give evidence, told of a conversation with Christopher Monk, then director of anaesthesia, when they were considering whether the unit could be stopped from doing high risk operations. He explained:“The analogy that was used was of a train where occasional passengers were falling off, and the train had to keep moving in order to attract funding. My impression of this unit was that the commitment of staff was to
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