Hospital still in crisis after Róisín’s death

Catherine Shanahan

Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, Dublin, has funding for 124 ICU nurses but has a staff of just 91. Last night, the hospital revealed a total of 55 cardiac operations were deferred last year, 18 because of inadequate staffing levels and one because there was no intensive care nurse.

Yesterday, an independent report into the death of two-year-old Róisín Ruddle was severely critical of management for failing to address an anticipated shortage of paediatric intensive care nurses. Róisín was discharged from the country’s leading children’s’ hospital on June 30, 2003 because of the nursing shortage. The report found Róisín would have had a greater chance of survival if the surgery had gone ahead. She died at her home in Ballingarry, Co Limerick on July 1, the day after being discharged from Crumlin.

In a statement last night, management at the hospital claimed major changes have since been implemented.

The hospital’s chief executive, Gerry O’Dwyer, said the most senior assistant director of nursing had been given “dedicated responsibility for recruitment and retention of specialised paediatric nurses”. A clinical bed manager was appointed in August, 2004 “to ensure efficient and effective use of beds/cots” and decisions will soon be made on recommendations on the management structure at the hospital. He said the hospital was actively monitoring its turnover of ICU staff.

Last night, the Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) said there was no incentive for nurses to specialise in paediatrics because specialist allowances were so poor and prolonged training meant they could earn more in the short term if they continued as general nurses.

Tánaiste and Health Minister Mary Harney, whose department was aware of the nursing shortage difficulties at Crumlin for years, said she agreed with the Ruddle report’s recommendation that the overall training period required to become a fully-qualified children’s ICU nurse be re-examined. At the moment, it takes nearly seven years to qualify and there are only 12 training places available.

We’ve got to make sure that the intensive care units are staffed at all times to be able to deal with patients that require services,” Ms Harney said.

Labour health spokesperson Liz McManus said the report was “unambiguous in stating that Roisin Ruddle’s death was not down to one isolated event, but occurred as a consequence of chronic nursing shortages.

The New Crumlin Hospital Group, a lobby group for the redevelopment of the hospital, called on the hospital chairman to reassess the composition of the committee of management in light of the problems that had occurred.