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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) today (March 26) announced the commencement of a patient lookback arrangement following the recommendations from the Department of Health Expert Panel on a case concerning a Health Care Worker infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The panel held a second meeting today to review the case which was referred by HA earlier this year.
HA Director (Quality & Safety), Dr Liu Hing-wing, said that HA has been very concerned and extremely prudent in handling the incident upon confirmation of the case of staff infection with HIV. He said, "Relevant experts within HA has immediately formed a committee to review the situation and assess any potential impact to patients and staff. In the course of internal discussion, it was emphasised that the personal privacy and identity of any staff member concerned should be protected in all circumstances, regardless of whatever follow up action is recommended."
Dr Liu remarked that according to the current guidelines relating to HIV-infected health care worker, it is not mandatory for health care workers to report if they are infected with HIV and the need of patient lookback would be assessed and determined on a case-by-case basis with its assessment based on the concept of "exposure-prone procedure".
Noting that the incident has aroused public concern, Dr Liu reiterated that standard precaution has been practised in public hospitals to safeguard staff and patients from the risk of infection and transmission of infectious diseases.
"At the same time, we will continue to keep in view international practice in the monitoring and requirement of reporting of health care workers with HIV infection, alongside the strategy of maintaining confidentiality of patient's identity," said Dr Liu.
While awaiting the recommendation of the Expert Panel, HA has already made necessary preparations to ensure prompt execution of patient lookback if required. Based on actions recommended by the Expert Panel today, HA will start to contact some 140 patients in the priority group from tomorrow, by mail and by telephone calls on the latest development; and offer them a choice of blood test despite the rare chance of transmission.
"Results of the blood tests, conducted centrally by Public Health Laboratory Centre of Department of Health with strict confidentiality, will be available within one to two days to minimise undue anxiety of the patients, while counselling service will also be provided," said HA Chief Infection Control Officer Dr Dominic Tsang who is in charge of the test arrangement.
"Further analysis will be conducted to ascertain the source of infection, if any of the blood test results indicate HIV infection. This will be necessary to identify whether the transmission was likely to be associated with the clinical work of the health care worker," added Dr Tsang.
The telephone hotline 2996 2222 set up by HA last week will continue to be manned and operate daily from 9am to 5pm. With strict confidentiality, callers' medical record will be checked and referred for follow-up test if indicated.
To address the concern of public hospital staff, internal telephone enquiry and counselling service have also been set up.
Ends/Monday, March 26, 2012
Issued at HKT 22:25
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