‘Agony goes on’ for Aoife Johnson's family after new report

The family of the 16-year-old, who died after waiting for 12 hours in University Hospital Limerick's ED for treatment for sepsis are 'profoundly disappointed' with report into her death

Aoife Johnston's family is 'bewildered' as to why the HSE is only now starting disciplinary proceedings and remain distressed names were removed from the report.

The agony goes on for the family of Aoife Johnston who died in University Hospital Limerick as they are “profoundly disappointed” with a new report into her death, their solicitor said.

The 16-year-old died on December 19, 2022 after waiting for 12 hours in the hospital's emergency department (ED) for treatment for sepsis. 

This report, by former Chief Justice Frank Clarke, found her death was “almost certainly avoidable” and that the ED was "grossly overcrowded" on the night in question. 

The findings have triggered internal disciplinary investigations by the HSE.

Damien Tansey, senior partner with Damien Tansey Solicitors, said: “The agony for them goes on.

“They have to face dealing with their grief in such a public manner. That is challenging and difficult. 

"Do the revelations in this report allow them to achieve some closure and to turn the page? No.” 

The family had campaigned for the report’s publication, threatening to publish their copy if the HSE did not act.

They are “bewildered” as to why the HSE is only now starting disciplinary proceedings and remain distressed names were removed from the report.

Those people “continue to enjoy anonymity,” he said, contrasting this with the public end to Aoife's life at just 16.

HSE chief executive Bernard Gloster described the report as “a pathway to the question of accountability”.

The HSE maintains having adverse findings against staff in the report would have “represented an unlawful contravention of their legal and contractual rights”.

Mr Gloster also said without the report that he "would not have been able to or in a position to formulate the concerns I now have based on the evidence and to commence investigations under our disciplinary procedures which I have.”

“We failed Aoife and our failure has resulted in the most catastrophic consequences for her and her family,” he said.

“It is only right and proper that there is appropriate accountability based on evidence, facts and that it is lawful in how it is pursued.” 

HSE chief executive Bernard Gloster said the body 'failed Aoife'. File picture

Marie McMahon, from the Midwest Hospital Campaign, said it was a sad day for the Johnstons and families like hers who also lost someone tragically at the hospital.

“The failures which come from the top — those failures didn’t start happening in 2022,” she said.

“Those failures were going on when Tommy [her husband] died in 2018. 

"Here we were four years later, and Aoife Johnston had to go through that and her family.” 

She added: “It’s just a sad day, it’s a sad day for everybody.” 

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association described the report as “troubling and telling independent analysis.”  

They supported Mr Clarke’s concern overcrowding is being accepted as “normal or at least reasonably normal”.