Stephen Donnelly emphasized the importance of placing Aoife's family at the center of any actions taken following their tragic loss, stating, 'That is our starting point and that would be our end point.' The health minister acknowledged the family's immense grief, saying, 'I cannot begin to imagine what they have gone through and what they are continuing to go through.' He assured them that both he and HSE chief executive Bernard Gloster intend to prioritize their concerns and needs.
Addressing accountability, Donnelly mentioned previous apologies made, stating, 'Bernard has apologised, I have apologised, and I know UHL has apologised, and quite rightly.' He indicated openness to a more public apology if the family desired, saying, 'If Carol and James want a more public apology, I can't see any issue with that, if that would help...'
The former chief justice Frank Clarke's report characterized Aoife's death as 'almost certainly avoidable,' highlighting a critical failure in the hospital's response time concerning the administration of a sepsis treatment bundle—countrywide protocols dictate treatment should commence within an hour.
Donnelly also noted the report pointed out 'conflicting evidence and serious discrepancies' in what occurred during the hours before Aoife's death, implying a need for scrutiny and possible reform in emergency responses at University Hospital Limerick.
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