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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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