Couple relives nightmare as second child falls ill

A LIMERICK couple whose daughter died after an operation was postponed due to a nursing shortage relived their nightmare last night when their second-born baby girl became ill.

Gerard and Helen Ruddle lost Roisín two years ago after a crucial heart operation was postponed at the last minute at Our Lady’s Hospital in Crumlin.

Last night they were maintaining a bedside vigil by their second child after she was rushed to Dublin’s Temple Street Children’s Hospital with an illness which may have been caused by a contaminated local water supply.

Roisín was just two years old when she died in July 2003 after being taken home to Kilfinny, Adare, Co Limerick, when her heart operation in Dublin was postponed just before she was due to be taken to theatre.

The Ruddles’ second girl was born since Roisín’s death, and was struck down by illness in the past week.

The little girl, who will be two next month, was admitted to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital but was transferred to Temple Street after two days. Mrs Ruddle said she was not in a position to comment on her daughter’s condition yesterday.

The hospital also declined to comment.

A spokesman for the Health Service Executive Mid-West said there had been 14 cases of e-coli 0157 - a highly dangerous form of gastroenteritis which can lead to kidney failure - in the area since October.

He confirmed that two children had to be sent to Dublin for treatment.

The spokesman said in the most recent case a child was treated for two days at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital before being transferred to Temple Street. Another child from the same area was rushed to Temple Street three weeks ago after being found to have the infection.

The HSE suspects that the outbreak of the e-coli 0157 infection may be linked the recent contamination of the local Kilfinny Group Water scheme, as nine of the 14 cases were from households whose water came from the scheme.

The 250 households in the area have been using bottled water for the past three weeks.

But yesterday, Limerick County Council said water from the group supply could be used, provided it was boiled beforehand.

Roisín’s heart operation was cancelled at the last minute due to a shortage of intensive care nurses at Our Lady’s Hospital in Crumlin. She was being prepared for theatre when her parents were told the surgery had been deferred.

After the 140-mile return journey home, Roisín became ill and died that night in her mother’s arms.