Good use of ‘Access’

Press, 30 August 1977, Page 19

Good use of ‘Access’

The edition of “Access” which featured kidney transplants and the need for donors, screened from South Pacific Television on Sunday evening, was an excellent example of absorbing local television serving the best interests of the community. The programme resulted from the initiative of a Christchurch Hospital surgeon, Mr John Morton, who clearly does not By KEN COATES

suffer stuffy attitudes about medical publicity for a good cause. In any case the question of advertising hardly arises as there is no-one else in the field.

The programme included as fine a piece of acting as has ever come from the studios of Avalon. Until they were told it was a simulated scene, there must have been few viewers who were not convinced that the wife of an accident victim was actually being interviewed about the use of her husband’s kidneys.

The sympathetic but distressed “wife” was played by Dr Marie Leonard, whose husband, another doctor on the hospital staff, played the role of the interviewer of a relative who had agreed to kidney donation. For the squeamish and weak of stomach, such as myself, the prospect of surgical operations on film is far from exciting. But the “Access” presentation was sensitively handled and proved to be quite absorbing. After a while, there was no question of deliberately looking away.

The piece had a clear message to convey, and in achieving communication, it effectively avoided o v e r-emphasising the transplant team’s requirement for healthy kidneys for recipients in need of them.

Due emphasis was given to the efforts taken to prolong and sustain life, and on safeguards and procedures followed for making decisions to turn off the respirator once “brain death” was established. The composition of the programme reflected thoughtful attention to balance — there were two cheerful recipients of kidney transplants as well as a relative who recalled the circumstances of giving permission for do-

“Access” is, of course, designed for individuals or groups in the community to communicate. The trick is to have television broadcasters available who can help make this happen. In the producer, Stan Hosgood, and broadcaster, Bryan Allpress, South Pacific Television is fortunate to have the right people in the right place. Mr Morton said yesterday that the professionalism and sensitivity shown by Mr Allpress in his work influenced him to approach the “Access” team to tell the public about the hospital’s kidney transplant work. One of the drawbacks of the programme is its late scheduling on Sunday evening. It is heartening to see the deterrent effect of this being overcome by someone who has something of wide interest and substance to communicate. A more realistic slot for a very worth-while programme could perhaps encourage more people to come forward. It would be tragic if it merely became a session for pressure groups. Incidentally, while exJiressing himself as “deighted” with the result, Mr Morton did not manage to view it all on Sunday night; he was called away by the hospital — to a kidney transplant operation.