The HSE has ordered a “wider” investigation into the death of Aoife Johnston. 

The 16-year-old from Clare died from meningitis after waiting hours to be treated in University Hospital Limerick in December, last year. 

Her death has already been investigated and a report has been shared with her family and HSE CEO Bernard Gloster, who decided he wanted further information.

“The Chief Executive of the HSE announced yesterday that he was ordering a new investigation - a wider one,” The Irish Times Health Editor Paul Cullen told Newstalk Breakfast.  

“[It’s] an external one to be conducted by the former Chief Justice and retired judge Frank Clark. 

“He’s been tasked not only to look into care given to Aoife on the day she was in the hospital but also the operation of the hospital.” 

The new investigation will also examine questions of accountability and Mr Gloster has asked that it be carried out in a timely manner. 

The HSE has apologised to Ms Johnston’s family and through their solicitor, the family has welcomed the new investigation.  

Ms Johnston died on December 19th, 2022, after she was admitted to University Hospital Limerick at a time when it was particularly busy. 

“There was a very serious wave of respiratory illnesses affecting young people,” Mr Cullen said. 

“At the time, flu was on the rise and I think there was bad weather as well, so people were [falling] and coming in with broken bones too.” 

Ms Johnston spent a significant amount of time in the emergency department and it was there her condition began to deteriorate. 

“She developed suspected sepsis and eventually she was taken into treatment but she died two days later, on this day a year ago,” Mr Cullen said.  

University Hospital Limerick

Overcrowding is a common complaint from patients in hospitals across Ireland but Mr Cullen said University Hospital Limerick is the “worst” of them all. 

“It had the worst overcrowding a year ago, it had it five years ago and it probably had it 10 years ago,” he said. 

“It’s had 20,000 patients on trolleys this year, it’s had the overall record for any single hospital with 130 patients on trolleys. 

“It’s been the subject of many calls by local politicians for action; there’s been letters from consultants, from junior doctors within the hospital seeking change. 

“There’s been task forces sent down by the HSE to try and affect change and none of it has made very much difference.” 

The ERSI has concluded hospitals in Ireland are 1,000 beds short and this figure could treble by 2030.

Main image: Aoife Johnston.