The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The 50th issue of "HA Risk Alert" is published today (July 27) 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 first quarter of 2018 (January – March), there were seven Sentinel Events reported, including five cases of retained instruments or other material after surgery/interventional procedure; an inpatient suicide case and an infant abduction case. Among the reported Serious Untoward Events, there were 19 medication incidents and a patient misidentification case.

     "Subsequent to incident review and analysis of root causes of these incidents, important lessons on patient safety are identified, while recommendations are made and shared in this publication to avoid similar events in future," the HA spokesperson said.
 
     The publication has been sent via email to all healthcare professionals in public hospitals for continuous quality improvement purposes.  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 months of January, April, July and October. The next issue is scheduled on October 26.

Ends/Friday, July 27, 2018
Issued at HKT 16:41

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