*********************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson of St John Hospital (SJH) today (August 6) made the following announcement on a sentinel event:
A 75-year-old male patient, suffering from pneumonia and multiple bedsores, was admitted into SJH on July 23 for treatment. He was bed-bound and had swallowing difficulties. Feeding through a naso-gastric tube was started three days after admission. Oxygen supplement was supplied to maintain the blood oxygen saturation. On August 2, a nurse, as a routine practice, removed the naso-gastric tube and inserted a new one. The patient had a chest X-ray examination on the following day. The duty physician checked the patient's X-ray film and found that the naso-gastric tube to be in the bronchus area instead of the stomach. The duty physician immediately took out the tube and examined the patient's conditions. His vital signs were unchanged. The doctor and the Patient Relations Officer explained the situation to his family members and put the patient under close monitoring.
The patient's conditions deteriorated and he succumbed at 10pm on August 3. SJH would like to express condolences to the family of the deceased patient.
SJH reported the incident to the Hospital Authority Head Office (HAHO) through the Advance Incident Reporting System on the same day. The hospital management is very concerned about the incident and an investigation panel will be formed to investigate and follow up the case. The investigation is expected to complete within 6 to 8 weeks. If human factor was involved in the incident, appropriate action will be taken according to the established human resources policy.
Ends/Friday, August 6, 2010
Issued at HKT 21:15
NNNN
