The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH) made the following update today (June 20) regarding the electricity supply system interruption incident yesterday (June 19):
After the interruption of electricity supply system interruption yesterday, the hospital had immediately arranged contractor to repair the electricity supply system and investigate the incident overnight. The contractor today has replaced the malfunction components in the system and Electrical and Mechanical Services Department is now conducting independent testing, with a view to assure the electricity supply system to be safe and stable after repair. It is expected that the previously affected elective surgery services will be gradually resumed tomorrow (June 21).
The spokesperson for KWH stated, "Preliminary investigation by the contractor who installed the electricity supply system revealed that there was a malfunction of the control components in the uninterrupted power supply system which is the third tier backup power supply source and this malfunction affected the operation of the third tier backup power supply system in the operating theatres."
The spokesperson added that though the first tier power supply system and the second tier backup generators in the hospital were functioning normally, the hospital still decided to temporarily suspend operation of eight operating theatres for a comprehensive check up and system repair works, as a precautionary measure. The uninterrupted power supply system is the third tier backup power supply source of the operating theatres. When there were failures in the first and the second tier power supply simultaneity, it will be acting as a backup power supply to maintain operation of the essential medical equipment. Affected by the incident, 23 elective surgeries originally scheduled for today needed to be postponed and two elective surgeries needed to be transferred to another unaffected operating theatres. The two surgeries were both performed uneventfully.
During the interruption of electricity supply yesterday, one ongoing surgery was needed to transfer to another unaffected operating theatre. Doctor discovered today that one surgical wound on the patient was found having leakage. After clinical examinations, the condition was confirmed to be a known complication of that surgery and the changing of the operating theatres did not affect the patient's condition. Doctors performed another operation to manage the patient's surgical wound and had explain to the patient's relatives.
The spokesperson said, "KWH has instructed the contractor to repair the electricity supply system as soon as possible, so as to resume normal power supply in the hospital. The Hospital Authority has requested the contractor to perform full investigation and submit report. If necessary, the Hospital Authority will seriously claim liability against the contractors in accordance with the terms of the contract."
Safety of patients is KWH's utmost concern. The hospital will adopt all feasible measures to resume the normal operation of the elective surgery of the operating theatres as soon as possible. All other clinical services in the hospital, including emergency surgery, inpatient services and Accident and Emergency service remained unaffected.
KWH expressed apologies to the affected patients again. Investigation will be carried out to look into the incident. The hospital also invited relevant government departments to give advice so as to ensure the electricity supply system of the operating theatres to be safer and more stable.
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