Grieving Family Seeks Answers, Accountability After Daughter's Tragic Death

In August 2024, 14-year-old Amelia Belle Ferguson tragically collapsed and died while attending an Irish college in Co Galway. Amelia had been receiving care from Children's Health Ireland (CHI) for a pre-existing heart condition that required a pacemaker since she was a baby.

Now, nearly a year after Amelia's passing, her family is still seeking answers and accountability from CHI. The family, including Amelia's parents Suzi Mangan and Brian Ferguson, and her sister Poppy, held a protest outside the Department of Health last week, calling for an independent review of Amelia's care.

The family says they have raised concerns with CHI about whether issues raised at Amelia's final appointment in May 2024 should have been taken more seriously. They also claim they only learned important details about Amelia's health records after her death. Despite these concerns, CHI later sent the family a letter stating Amelia's cardiovascular examination on that day was "normal" - a letter that arrived on the day of her funeral.

After waiting four months for a response, the family received a list of answers from CHI, but they say the responses were "inadequate" and "vague," failing to fully address their questions about Amelia's care. The family is now demanding more transparency, honesty, and accountability from the healthcare system, so that other families do not have to endure a similar "horrendous" experience.