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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The 41st issue of "HA Risk Alert" is published today (April 29) by the Hospital Authority (HA) as a risk management and communication initiative to further strengthen the reporting and monitoring of medical incidents in public hospitals.
In the fourth quarter of 2015, there were nine sentinel events reported, comprising three cases of patient suicide, three cases of retained instruments after surgery/interventional procedure, two cases of maternal death and one other case. Among the reported serious untoward events, there were 18 medication incidents and seven cases of patient misidentification.
"Subsequent to incident review and analysis of root causes of these incidents, important lessons of patient safety are identified, while recommendations are made and shared in this publication to avoid similar events in future," the spokesman said.
The publication has been distributed to all health care professionals in public hospitals for continuous quality improvement. It can also be accessed by the public at www.ha.org.hk/riskalert.
"HA Risk Alert" is published on a quarterly basis and posted on the HA website every last working Friday in the month of January, April, July and October. The next issue is scheduled for July 29.
Ends/Friday, April 29, 2016
Issued at HKT 18:29
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