The parents of two-year-old Limerick girl Róisín Ruddle, who died within hours of her heart surgery being cancelled by Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin, Dublin, two weeks ago, have called for an independent inquiry into the events surrounding her death.
In a statement issued yesterday, Mr Gerard Ruddle and Ms Helen Quain-Ruddle, said they had read the reports compiled by the hospital and the Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA) on the events of June 30th last, when their child's surgery was postponed, and they did not answer all their questions.
A report on the child's death was ordered from the ERHA by the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, immediately after the child died. It was completed late on Monday, and sent to the Ruddle family in Kilfinny, Adare, Co Limerick, and to Mr Martin.
The Ruddle family statement, issued thorough a PR firm yesterday afternoon after they had read the report, said: "After due consideration we feel that further questions need to be answered and are calling on the Minister for Health and Children, Mr Micheál Martin TD, to set up an independent inquiry as soon as possible into the events surrounding the death of our daughter Róisín."
The Department of Health said last night that the Minister had "noted" the Ruddle family's request for an independent inquiry. It is understood Mr Martin does not have a difficulty with the request and a statement issued by his Department last night said that he had offered to meet the Ruddle family "to determine the most appropriate means of addressing their concerns". Mr Martin spoke to the family by telephone yesterday but the Department of Health said the ERHA report into the child's death would not be published until there were further consultations with the Ruddle family.
It said the Minister had also written to the family "reiterating his absolute commitment to ensuring that all the relevant facts are made available". Immediately after Róisín's death the hospital said a shortage of intensive care nurses to look after her after she had her operation was responsible for her surgery being postponed. It said the child was stable when sent home and her death was completely unexpected. It planned to reschedule her operation within a few days.
Earlier yesterday Mr Martin said his immediate thoughts on reading the report were with the Ruddle family. The loss of another child was "something that we would want to avoid into the future", he said.
The ERHA report does not go into whether the child's surgery should have been postponed or not. Nor does it make recommendations. It sets out in chronological order what happened once Róisín arrived at the hospital for her elective surgery to correct a congenital heart condition. It states that two children were admitted around the same time but there were only enough nurses in intensive care to look after one. Róisín, who would have required two intensive care nurses, was the one to lose out.
Furthermore, it draws attention to the shortage of nurses in the intensive care department. The hospital received funding for 124 nurses but spent money on 105 only due to difficulties hiring staff. Opposition parties last night called for the report to be published without delay.