1999 Symposium Talks

In this section, we hope to provide transcripts of talks delivered by speakers at our symposium held in May 1999.

Steve McMullan, Special Educational Needs Advisory and Support Teacher
Steve has two daughters, both with congenital heart problems, one now aged 15, and the other 13. He works for Sandwell Child Psychology Department, and helps children with special educational needs and behavioural problems, and spoke to us about "school phobia" and how a child's health problems may impact on this.

Dr Nick Dennis, Senior Lecturer in Genetics at Southampton General Hospital
Nick Dennis has worked at Southampton General Hospital for many years. Here he gives us a glimpse into the complex world of heart disease and genetics.

Rowan Maulder, father of a heart child and former Executive Committee member of the Wessex Children's Heart Circle.
Rowan tells us of his experiences of being the father of a heart child - sometimes funny, sometimes sad, and sometimes just plain silly.

Ruth Henry, Mother of a 'heart' child, currently Treasurer and Area Contact for the Wessex Children's Heart Circle
Ruth tells us the story of her experience of diagnosis in utero, and the impact that it had on her pregnancy and beyond.

Sarah Meekin, Senior Clinical Psychologist, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children
Sarah is the Senior Clinical Psychologist in a department of about five or six psychologists. The Royal Children's Hospital is the main paediatric hospital in Northern Ireland. Sarah's interests lie primarily in the area of chronic illness.

Stuart Sheppard, Head of Perfusion at Southampton General Hospital
Steve is Head of Perfusion at SHG - a role in cardiac surgergy he describes as being a bit like the fifth Beatle - people know that he was there but nobody could actually tell you who he was. When cardiac surgery is performed the heart is stopped to do the operation, and a machine is used to take control of the heart and lungs - that's what Stuart does.