'I am sorry': ACT Health Minister apologises for Canberra Hospital failures leading to Rozalia Spadafora's death

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The ACT Health Minister has apologised for failures at Canberra Hospital that contributed to the death of five-year-old Rozalia Spadafora in 2022. Rachel Stephen-Smith delivered the government’s official response to the inquest, reassuring Rozalia’s family that her death would not be forgotten.

Transcript

00:00Her untimely death prompted a coronial inquest, and now a reaction from the very top.

00:13Rosalia Spadafora went to hospital on her fifth birthday.

00:17She was in the emergency department for more than 24 hours before she died from myocarditis.

00:23The inquest found delays in Rosalia's treatment left her with no opportunity for survival.

00:30Today, the minister offered a heartfelt apology.

00:33I don't have the legal responsibilities or constraints of a coroner.

00:37And so I can say to Katrina, through you Mr Speaker, that I believe she did as much as

00:42any parent could be expected to do to seek healthcare and to advocate for Rosalia.

00:47I am sorry that Canberra Hospital let her and Rosalia down so badly.

00:51The coroner made four recommendations.

00:54They included ensuring the nursing role, tasked with monitoring patients in the ED waiting

01:00room, is staffed at all times.

01:02The minister says that and other changes have already taken effect.

01:07CHS is in many ways a different organisation today than it was in July 2022.

01:12While the inquest hasn't given Rosalia's family any closure, Rosalia's mother has previously

01:18told the ABC she hoped any changes would form part of her daughter's legacy.

01:24To prevent another situation like this, like who wants to see their child in that manner

01:30to get treated that way?

01:31No one.

01:32I can only assure them that the ACT government will not forget what happened to Rosalia.

01:36A girl whose all too short life has left a major mark.

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