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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The investigation panel appointed by Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) has completed the investigation into the incident of misidentification of two babies in the hospital's postnatal ward. The investigation report was released today (September 18). The full report is available at the hospital website: www3.ha.org.hk/qeh/InvestigationRpt.htm .
The hospital management accepted the investigation findings. The improvement measures recommended in the investigation report will shortly be implemented. Immediately after the incident, the hospital instructed labour room staff to put a handwritten identification band on a baby's left foot instead of a bracelet on the left wrist, lest the bracelet drops off when the baby shrinks, and postnatal ward staff to put a 2D barcode identification band on a baby's right foot in front of the mother. Regular audit, staff retraining, supervisory enhancement and a culture building programme will be implemented to ensure the effectiveness of the systems and procedures as well as continuous service improvement in the postnatal ward.
Disciplinary action will be taken in accordance with the prevailing Hospital Authority human resources policy. The hospital will set up a committee of inquiry with a time frame of four weeks to consider appropriate disciplinary action for the relevant staff who failed to perform their roles effectively.
Meetings have been arranged with the families of the babies to explain the contents of the investigation report.
QEH expresses again its most sincere apologies to the families concerned.
Ends/Friday, September 18, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:36
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