Lessons must be learned from devastating report into the death of Aoife Johnston
Labour Cllr and General Election candidate Conor Sheehan has called on the Minister for Health to address the long-publicised capacity issues in UHL following the report into the death of Aoife Johnston.
Cllr Sheehan said:
“Today is another harrowing day for the family of Aoife Johnston. To learn that her death was almost certainly avoidable is unthinkable. My thoughts are with them today.
“The crisis in UHL has been well documented for years. Despite weasel words of sympathy from then Minister for Health and now Taoiseach Simon Harris, very little has been done to address the serious capacity issues.
“It’s clearly an unsafe environment for those who need treatment, as well as those who work in the hospital to provide care to our loved ones.
“One of the most chilling aspects of this report is the finding that issues of clinical concern raised by nurses and other healthcare professionals were ignored for far too long.
“This can’t simply be another report left to gather dust. We need accountability. There are capacity and, clearly, management issues at the heart of UHL. This Government must take immediate action to address these shortcomings.”