HSE says 'deeply upsetting' video of treatment of patient was not filmed at UHL
David Raleigh
The HSE Mid West said its enquiries into a disturbing video of a healthcare worker and a female patient that went viral on social media last week were not filmed in University Hospital Limerick (UHL) or any of its other hospital sites.
Aisling Hogan, from Caherdavin, Limerick, who went public in seeking answers from the HSE, claiming the female patient in the video was her mother while she was an inpatient at University Hospital Limerick, said Sunday night that she was “wholeheartedly” sorry that she was mistaken.
Hogan said she had believed the patient in the video was her late mother Ita Tobin (83), who had lived with dementia prior to her death in August 2025.
Speaking Sunday night, Hogan said she had been informed by the HSE that its enquiries had found that the patient in question was not her late mother and that the video had not been filmed at UHL.
A statement posted on Facebook on Sunday, which Ms Hogan said was attributable to her, said: “I am deeply sorry for getting this wrong. When I first saw the video, myself and my family genuinely and wholeheartedly believed the woman (patient) was our mother. We wholeheartedly apologise for the upset caused.”
Hogan said she was shocked by the outcome of the HSE’s enquiries, and she had no further comment to make at this point.
After Hogan went public last week, the HSE Mid West issued a statement that it was aware of the video shared on social media and it was investigating the matter.
The HSE Mid West described the footage as “deeply concerning” and that the “behaviour depicted” in the video was “wholly unacceptable” and “falls far short of the standards of dignity, respect, and compassionate care that all patients are entitled to expect”.
On Sunday, the HSE Mid West confirmed the video was actually not recorded in University Hospital Limerick or any HSE Mid West facility, “and does not involve a member of UHL or HSE Mid West staff”.
“The hospital where the incident actually occurred (outside of HSE Mid West) has confirmed that the footage originated there.”
The HSE Mid West added: “The patient involved has been identified and the family concerned has been informed.”
“From the outset, HSE Mid West made clear that the location, date and circumstances of the footage had not been verified and that work was underway to establish the facts. That process has now concluded and the findings were communicated to the families concerned.”
A separate statement issued by a spokesperson for HSE Mid West said: “What is shown in the footage is deeply upsetting, concerns about the treatment of vulnerable patients must always be taken seriously and properly investigated.”
“Our responsibility was to establish the facts before drawing conclusions about the patient, the healthcare worker or the hospital. That process has now been completed.”
“We are particularly concerned about the impact on staff across the Mid West, many of whom were subjected to criticism, abuse and threats in relation to an incident for which they had no involvement or responsibility.”
“Scrutiny of healthcare services is legitimate and necessary; abuse and threats are not,” added the spokesperson.
