Incident of inappropriate disposal of patient identification bracelets at Ruttonjee and Tang Shiu Kin Hospitals
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The spokesperson for Ruttonjee and Tang Shiu Kin Hospitals (RTSKH) made the following announcement today (October 14) regarding an incident of inappropriate disposal of patient identification bracelets:
It was reported on October 7 to the hospital management that an operating assistant (responsible for cleaning services) did not follow prevailing procedures while handling confidential waste and transferred patient identification bracelets containing personal data (including name, HKID number, age and sex), temporarily stored in a designated confidential waste collection container, to a black rubbish bag, which was handled as domestic waste, on October 5. As confirmed by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, black rubbish bags collected from the hospital were sent to landfill on the same day, and the bracelets cannot be recovered.
It was revealed that the personal data of 114 discharged patients are involved. RTSKH has started to contact the affected patients to explain the incident and express its sincere apologies. According to existing practice, patient identification bracelets are placed in a designated collection container in wards and collected by an appointed confidential waste contractor at regular intervals. The hospital will follow up with the relevant staff issues in accordance with prevailing human resources regulations.
RTSKH is very concerned about the incident. The hospital management reported the incident to the Hospital Authority Head Office through the Advance Incidents Reporting System and also reported the incident to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data. The following measures were taken immediately to prevent recurrence of similar incidents in future:
- All ward domestic service staff have been reminded of the importance of following the proper procedures on confidential waste handling;
- RTSKH issued a notice on collection of confidential waste to all units, reminding them that confidential waste temporarily stored in designated collection containers should be collected by the designated waste contractor; and
- Warning labels are adhered to the confidential waste containers.
Ends/Friday, October 14, 2016
Issued at HKT 19:10
Issued at HKT 19:10
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