The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The 54th issue of "HA Risk Alert" is published today (July 26) 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 2019 (January – March), there were 12 Sentinel Events reported, including four cases of retained instrument after surgery/interventional procedure, five cases of inpatient suicide, one case of wrong side procedure, one case of maternal morbidity four days after delivery and one case of other categories. Among the 16 reported Serious Untoward Events, all were related to medication error.
      
     "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 HA spokesperson said.
      
     The Hospital Authority Head Office has released the latest "HA Risk Alert" to all staff. 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 October 25 (Friday).

Ends/Friday, July 26, 2019
Issued at HKT 16:25

NNNN