24 March 2022: Foster - C
PPF (Plasma Protein Fraction) is just another acronym among many that exclude so many core participants from engaging in the Inquiry. That's no criticism of the Inquiry, but rather it illustrates the barriers ordinary people face when trying to understand what happened to them or their loved ones. The Government officials, clinicians, and pharmaceutical companies must know how they can try to baffle people with science so as to hide behind impenetrable scientific writing. Thank goodness for the few "victim expert witnesses" who can see through the gobbledygook on behalf of the many. You know who you are.
The logistics discussion around capacity, human resources, maximising equipment use, etc highlights the problems when academics and scientists are given responsibility for people and things rather than sticking to data and labs.
The difficulties with shift-working is curious. Many NHS staff work to shift patterns. Such apparent difficulties with the local unions could be seen (used) by some as a reasonable justification for moving to a privatised provider. The assignment of blame on to workers and their representatives as the reason for the lack of progress in achieving fractionation targets is, at least, very unhelpful. In many situations, if it hadn't been for the input of union reps to protect union members, then many more situations of unsafe practices would be seen (or perhaps hidden).
A change in Dr Foster's demeanor was noticed when Counsel moved on to the issue of developing the built environments of both PFC and BPL. While questions in this line were often phrased as seeking the witness to "comment", many of the answers are snipped short by simply responding "yes", "no", or "I don't know". Is Dr Foster concerned about saying something here that he shouldn't, or is too much being read into the responses to these questions? Otherwise this witness has seemed happy to give fuller answers.
The World in Action programme was seen as further support for increased investment in the PFC estate to minimise the reliance on imported commercial product. Dr Watt took part in the programme, so it was a topic of conversation in the office.
Worrying about the increased risks associated with ever greater pool sizes was not an option since bigger pool sizes was being clung to as the only solution to achieving self-sufficiency and minimising importation. An investigation into the use of concentrates with viral risks for treating moderate and mild haemophiliacs was mentioned in a paper citing Dr Foster as having provided assistance. He was not, however, able to confirm that he knew anything about that investigation. Ok, he may be genuine in that response, but given the frequency of clinical witnesses having convenient selective memory syndrome, it's hard to to be suspicious.
Comments
Post a Comment