*Aoife Johnston.
DISCIPLINARY proceedings await three senior officials at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) following a report into the death of Shannon teenager Aoife Johnston.
Chief Executive of UHL, Colette Cowan is among the officials facing disciplinary proceedings in light of a report into Aoife’s death which occurred in December 2022.
The Sunday Independent has reported that Cowan is one of three senior figures at UHL who have been notified that disciplinary action will be taken while a further three staff members are also set to be hit with sanctions.
This follows HSE Chief Executive, Bernard Gloster receiving a report into Aoife’s death by former Chief Justice, Frank Clarke. Cowan has stepped aside from her role pending the outcome of the proceedings.
Sixteen year old Aoife was admitted to UHL’s ED with suspected sepsis in December 2022. She died after waiting more than 12 hours for the treatment that could have saved her life. An inquest in April found her death was due to medical misadventure. Limerick Coroner John McNamara said there were systemic failures, missed opportunities and communication breakdowns throughout Aoife’s time in the ED at UHL.
On that Saturday evening (December 17th) when Aoife was admitted, the emergency department had up to 191 patients, it was built to accommodate 49. The Clarke inquiry is understood to have investigated conflicting accounts of why a plan to relieve pressure on the emergency department was never activated.
An executive on-call on the night in question told Aoife’s inquest that on the weekend in question she advised that patients on trolleys waiting admission be moved out of the A&E department on to wards to ease the pressure. However, nurses in the emergency department that night robustly denied ever receiving that instruction.
Last December, Health Service Executive CEO Bernard Gloster appointed former Chief Justice Clarke to conduct a formal investigation into her death. The report was received by Gloster in July, he gave a public commitment that he will “discharge accountability” and ensure “appropriate justice” in relation to Aoife’s death.
According to the solicitor representing the Johnston family, they are “profoundly disappointed” with the report and that they have learned nothing new from it.
Damien Tansey, of Damien Tansey Solicitors, said it was hoped Mr Clarke’s report would offer new insight into what happened to Aoife.
However, he said Mr Clarke’s report did not resolve conflicts of evidence, did not make findings of fact and failed to advance their understanding of what happened on the night Aoife died. “Despite his assurances, we learn through the report that Mr Clarke cannot make findings of fact, that he cannot resolve conflict and he cannot make any finding against any specific person or group.”
Demanding and harrowing as the inquest into Aoife’s death was for her family, they at least learned how and why Aoife died, he said.
