“HA Risk Alert” latest issue published

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The 62nd issue of "HA Risk Alert" was published today (July 30) by the Hospital Authority (HA) as a risk management and communication initiative to further strengthen the reporting and monitoring of clinical incidents in public hospitals.
 
     In the first quarter of 2021 (January to March), there were seven Sentinel Events reported, comprising three cases of retained instrument/material after surgery/interventional procedure, two cases of inpatient suicide and two cases of procedure involving wrong body part. Among the 21 reported Serious Untoward Events, there were 19 related to medication error and two patient misidentifications.
 
     "Subsequent to incident review and analysis of the root causes of these incidents, important lessons for patient safety have been identified, while recommendations are made and shared in this publication to avoid similar events in future," the HA spokesperson said.
 
     The HA 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 on the last working Friday in the months of January, April, July and October. The next issue is scheduled for October 29 (Friday).