Press Releases
SFH on sentinel event at Kowloon Hospital
Following is a transcript of remarks (English portion) made by the Secretary
for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, at a media stand-up session in the
Legislative Council Complex today (November 23):
Reporter: Can we have your reaction to the medical blunder at Kowloon
Hospital?
Secretary for Food and Health: First of all, there are a number of facts
that need to be ascertained. So far, it was not very clear why the piece of
gauze was put with four tapes around it. And yet there were so many medical
and nursing staff working in the ward in the last six days before the
patient died but nothing was being done about it. The second thing is that I
am not so sure how thick the gauze is. Normally there are a lot of holes on
a gauze, it is very porous. In other words, it would not actually interfere
with the breathing of anyone with a tracheostomy. So, I think definitely the
cause of death is needed to be ascertained. Thirdly, I notice that there is
significant conflict between the health-care staff and the patient's family.
I believe this is something that needs to be addressed more closely by the
Hospital Authority.
Reporter: (About whether there is a lack of manpower.)
Secretary for Food and Health: As I heard from the news, the hospital has
about 20-odd staff in the ward, which is not a small number in terms of
managing a rehabilitation and convalescence ward. I think it is perhaps not
related to manpower alone.
Reporter: (About penalties on medical staff.)
Secretary for Food and Health: It is quite premature before the
investigation is completed. Normally, to inform any sentinel event should be
non-punitive. But if the investigation shows that certain staff lack a
certain standard or responsibility or actually committed certain deviation
from the code of conduct, of course there should be some sorts of
disciplinary action within the hospital and Hospital Authority. But that
would be up to the hospital to decide.
Reporter: (About the timetable of the investigation.)
Secretary for Food and Health: According to the Hospital Authority, they
will spend about two months on this report but I hope that they can work
faster. As long as they work faster, the matter will be cleared earlier.
(Please also refer to the
Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:40
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