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THE TAOISEACH HAS committed to an investigation into the death of a teenage girl from meningitis in University Hospital Limerick.
Leo Varadkar told reporters yesterday that an investigation will help determine whether the death of 16-year-old Aoife Johnston was preventable or not.
He offered his condolences to the bereaved family, and remarked that it was important “not to jump to conclusions at this stage.
“My understanding is that a Serious Incident Management Team has now been established and that’s going to review her treatment … I am a former [non-consultant hospital doctor] and former GP and that’s exactly why I wouldn’t jump to conclusions as to what happened in terms of her treatment or care
“It is really important that an investigation is carried out and that the case is fully reviewed so that we can understand whether what happened was preventable or not, and what can be done in the future to improve the situation.
“So that that investigation is is going to happen, and I’ll certainly seek an assurance from the HSE this afternoon that the investigation will be done as thoroughly and as quickly as possible, because I know that’s what the family expects, and that’s what they have a right to expect.”
The HSE’s Department of Public Health Mid West said on Wednesday that it was identifying close contacts of a person who had died from meningitis in the mid-west region.
Aoife Johnston, from Cronan Lawn, Shannon, Co Clare, was struck by the illness last weekend and died at University Hospital Limerick on Monday.
It has been reported that she spent a significant amount of time on a hospital trolley.
She “passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family”, an obituary notice read.
The Department of Public Health Mid West said earlier this week that “the overall risk to the wider community is considered low”, but that meningitis “is a serious illness involving inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, and it can be caused by a variety of different germs, mainly bacteria and viruses”.
“Person-to-person spread of meningococcal disease is very unusual, especially with others who are not a household or physically close personal contact.”
“Bacterial meningitis is less common but usually more serious than viral meningitis and requires urgent treatment with antibiotics.”
Damien McCallion, the HSE’s Chief Operations Officer, said yesterday that Aoife’s death was “a horrible thing to happen to any family, particularly at this time of the year.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio One, he confirmed that an investigation was set up “immediately” to examine the care given.
He added that hospitals around the country are “under sustained pressure” due to high numbers of patients with Covid-19, the flu and RSV.
Yesterday, 360 patients, including 19 children, were without a bed in Irish hospitals, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).
INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said yesterday: “The members we represent, and their clinical colleagues are very angry where they have been left to try provide care in really unsafe environments.
“Nurses, doctors, and all patient-facing staff have been placed in an impossible position because of poor planning on behalf of their employer and the Government. Our members and the patients in their care are dealing with the consequences of a minimalistic, hands-off approach.”
McCallion said in response: “We’re now dealing with three viruses, not one.
“We have increased our workforce … we would like to have more staff recruited, we’re actively trying to do so.”
Additional reporting by David Raleigh
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All the lads slapping each other on the back last week while this girl died from a preventable death. God forgive those in charge for the years of mismanagement. Sincere condolences to her family and friends. And the staff at UHL, can’t have been easy for them. May she rest in peace.
I’m sure if she was taken care of in a timely manner she wouldn’t have died. Closing hospitals has consequences.
The downgrading of Ennis, St John’s and Nenagh has serious consequences. The dogs on the street know that. The ED department at UHL can be an absolute nightmare. I genuinely don’t know if the management are at fault or is it purely demand is way too high and the system is beyond repair at this stage. Either way, something drastic needs to be done. Rest in peace Aoife. Thoughts and prayers to your family and to the nurse that was trying to look after you
@Luke Ronan: Unfortunately the dogs on the street will go in and vote FF and FG every election
@Mogh Roith: And the choice is what
@Una Ni Mhathuna: The choice is to give other parties who are not FG/FF a decent go and put all their promises into real action. Sure, if they’re no use, we get the brilliant FF/FG back in, all be grand then. The “what is the choice” lot will no doubt continue to blindly vote the same lot back into power, and there lies a big part of the problem.
I spent 14hours on a chair in the UHL A&E in the SUMMER of 2017 so I can’t even imagine the state of it out there right now. People from Limerick/Clare/Tipp have a genuine fear of going to UHL because of how bad it is. But if you’re truly sick there is nowhere else to go, and that is beyond frightening!!!! It’s not the fault of the nurses and doctors. It lies at the feet of senior management and the government!! I’ve attended numerous protests in Limerick over the years re UHL and no one listens and this is now the result of inaction. No one should spend 13+hrs to be seen in a functioning system. Thinking of Aoife, her family and friends. X
some are working hard, while others are hardly working. I think we all know who.
Ministers were told repeatly prior to this that there was issues and they did nothing about it.
I can only imagine leaving someone with a time critical illness for 16 hours on a trolley without antibiotics can result in loss of life as in this case, my heart goes out to Aoife’s family on the loss of their child , we will be treated to more ‘lessons learned’ when this investigation is done… that’s until the next time.
Timely reminder that your man over the Mid-West HSE has been PROMOTED! I hope the family get some justice.
August 1981, i was 9 and rushed to Limerick regional (now UHL) with meningitis. I remember it vividly and the brilliant work they did to save my life. Something went wing with this poor girl RIP
This Hospital is an absolute disgrace, the government know it and they still do nothing. The Hospitals closed in the arez over the Years and then no investment in health Fighting fires ever year throws billions at hse while the management get big pensions
May Aoife Rest in peace.
They have had years to sort this out. Country run by clowns.
I hope the UL management will reflect on the magnitude of their incompetence with they sit down to pull there Christmas crackers. One girl won’t!
Trying.to give impression that hospita crisis only started over covid its ongoing for many many yrs check it out public hospital beds nurses population 4000000 mil today 5000000mil check out difference please
My poor cousin YES her death absolutely could have been avoided!!! that hospital is an absolute joke! I myself have suffered so much from the lack of care I have received there, I hope my family get justice for aoife
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