Call to make public Róisín probe findings

THE circumstances leading to the death of two-year-old Róisín Ruddle must be made public, Heart Children Ireland insisted yesterday.

The support group for families of children with congenital heart disorders said while the family’s privacy must be respected all the facts must be published.

Róisín Ruddle, from Ballingarry, Co. Limerick, died in her parents’ arms after being sent home from Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children last Monday week.

Doctors said her operation to correct her heart defect had been cancelled because of a shortage of intensive care nurses.

The report into the circumstances of the child’s death was expected to be on the Minister for Health’s desk in the next day or two.

However, the publication date has been delayed as the department seeks further information from the hospital and concern over the privacy of the girl’s parents.

Shay McConnell of Heart Children Ireland said yesterday: “Sadly, Róisín died because she did not have her surgery. It’s the people who don’t have a voice that are suffering.”

Mr McConnell said he knew Róisín’s parents. His eight-year-old son, Eoghan, suffered from the same complex condition as the girl and needed ongoing treatment. Eoghan has already undergone numerous heart operations and needed more surgery.

Mr McConnell said Heart Children Ireland believed the issue needed to be address publicly by both Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevy as they both shared responsibility with Minister Martin for the conditions at the hospital that were well known.

“It is evident Róisín had a very complex congenital heart defect that would need ongoing treatment. It will not be enough for Minister Martin to say that such a diagnosis could have caused sudden death at any time.”

Mr McConnell said the sad fact was if Róisín had her surgery when planned she would be alive today and recovering in Crumlin with her family around her.

He said the facts that led to the cancellation of her surgery had been well known to the minister and his officials for years.

“This tragedy could have been avoided if the administration had acted on foot of concerns raised over many years by groups such as Heart Children Ireland and the staff in the cardiac unit in Crumlin Hospital.”

Mr McConnell added: “Conditions at the hospital are just dreadful for parents and their children. Morale has also plummeted since Róisín’s death.”