The head of the Health Service Executive (HSE) has appointed a retired judge to investigate the tragic death of a Shannon teenager at University Hospital Limerick one year ago today.
16-year-old Aoife Johnston passed away from bacterial meningitis on December 19th 2022 after she was left on a trolley for twelve hours at UHL’s Emergency Department.
Last week, the University of Limerick Hospitals Group (ULHG) shared the results of an internal review into Aoife’s death with her family and issued an apology for the “serious failings in the care provided to their daughter.”
HSE CEO Bernard Gloster has since considered the report and has decided to initiate a formal investigation on the matter.
Mr Gloster said he is satisfied that questions of accountability need to be addressed.
In a statement, Mr Gloster added: “I have appointed the former Chief Justice Mr Justice Frank Clarke (retired) to conduct a formal investigation into all of these matters, to make findings and to report to me. The outcome of this investigation will inform any further decisions to be made.”
“There are many situations in health and social care where analysis of adverse incidents can glean learnings for improvement. There are also situations where clearly further investigation is required and I am satisfied this is one of those. I intend to finalise the Terms of Reference in the coming weeks and have asked Mr Justice Clarke to conduct a timely but thorough investigation.
I will not be in a position to provide any further details at this time, but again take the opportunity on behalf of the HSE, at the time of her first anniversary to apologise unreservedly to Aoife’s family, recognising no words of mine can ever take away their loss. I do however assure them that the issues raised in the report will be investigated thoroughly.”
Clare Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway has welcomed the news.
His party’s Health spokesperson in the Seanad said: “This is a very tragic case and puts a lot of issues into perspective for everyone at this time of year.
Aoife’s family have lived with her passing for the last 12 months and they deserve to know the circumstances of everything surrounding their experiences at UHL last December.”
“I hope this investigation takes place in a speedy manner, and without any delays, so that the HSE can be best informed as to what should happen thereafter,” Senator Conway said.