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.
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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.