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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
Following the establishment of an Expert Advisory Group in August this year to review the recent incident of possible excess occupational exposure to nitrous oxide (N2O, also known as laughing gas) in some public hospitals, the Hospital Authority (HA) has commissioned two occupational hygiene consultants of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) to conduct a comprehensive N2O assessment in public hospital obstetric units.
The HA spokesman said that alongside pre-assessment site visits by the HKUST consultants, which would commence shortly in preparation for the formal assessment exercise, the Labour Department has recently conducted inspection of all obstetric units.
"In a recent Labour Department inspection at Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH), the connecting tubing to the N2O scavenger system located in the labour ward was found to be non-functioning.
"As a precautionary measure, KWH has decided to temporarily suspend the use of N2O for a few weeks awaiting procurement of replacement parts. The Labour Department site inspections have not identified similar problems in the obstetric units of public hospitals other than KWH," the spokesman remarked.
Meanwhile, the obstetric unit of Tuen Mun Hospital has earlier suspended the use of N2O temporarily to facilitate improvement works in the ventilation system.
Pending the resumption of use of N2O, alternative pain relieving treatments will be provided to mothers in labour, such as use of a birth ball, transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation, pethidine injection and epidural analgesia.
The spokesman added, "The HA will continue to monitor the situation closely and work with the Labour Department and Cluster Occupational Safety & Health teams in subsequent follow-up actions."
Ends/Monday, October 15, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:12
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