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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Investigation Panel appointed by the Hospital Chief Executive of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH) has completed the investigation into the incident of missing a baby body from the mortuary of the hospital. The investigation report is announced today (February 17). The full Investigation Report is available at the hospital website: http://www.ha.org.hk/pyneh/report/090217/PYNInvestigationReport090217.pdf
The Hospital Chief Executive, Dr Loretta Yam, thanked the Panel for their dedication and effort in finalizing the report on a tight schedule in the past month. The valuable views and recommendations made by the Panel will help enhance service quality and patient safety in the hospital.
The hospital management accepted the investigation findings, and acknowledged that the incident had involved accountability and management issues. The Head of the Pathology Department has been instructed to take immediate actions to follow up and implement improvement measures as recommended in the investigation report.
"All recommendations will be adopted as long term measures and the implementation will be closely monitored and regularly audited to sustain the improvement," Dr Yam said.
In accordance with prevailing Hospital Authority human resources policy, the hospital management will consider appropriate disciplinary actions such as counseling and warning in respect of the relevant staff of the Department of Pathology, who failed to perform their roles effectively. PYNEH will set up a Committee of Inquiry to consider appropriate disciplinary actions on staff with serious unsatisfactory performance or committed gross misconduct.
Dr Yam wishes to express again the deepest regrets of the hospital regarding the occurrence of the incident, as well as the most sincere apology and condolences to the family of the baby.
Ends/Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Issued at HKT 22:26
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