Indo Daily Extra: Aoife Johnston – Why wasn’t her life saved?

Aoife Johnston (16) died of sepsis at UHL in December 2022

A consultant microbiologist requested an urgent investigation immediately after he realised Aoife Johnston (16) had waited 15 hours and 15 minutes for critical antibiotic treatment at University Hospital Limerick (UHL). He said the treatment would probably have saved her life if it was administered sooner.

Fiona Steed, who was executive-in-charge at UHL on the night in question, said understaffing and overcrowding undermined the ability of the hospital to care for its patients.

“I have been moved by Aoife’s death every night and every day since,” she said. “I look at my daughters and realise how lucky I am to have them. I think of Aoife. I will never forget Aoife or her beautiful face.

“These are not hollow condolences. It has completely altered my approach to life and my approach to my children.”

Members of the Johnston family became visibly upset during Ms Steed’s evidence.

Aoife’s family are still coming to terms with her loss. Her sister, Meagan, left the inquest courtroom in tears as she said: “We go home without Aoife every day.”

Today, on the Indo Daily, Kevin Doyle is joined by Ralph Riegel, southern correspondent for the Irish Independent. Ralph has spent this week at the inquest into the death of 16-year-old Aoife Johnston. We ask - why wasn't her life saved?

Indo Daily Extra: Aoife Johnston – Why wasn’t her life saved?

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