“HA Risk Alert” latest issue published

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The 55th issue of "HA Risk Alert" is published today (October 25) 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 second quarter of 2019 (April – June), there were eight sentinel events reported, including three cases of retained instrument after surgery/interventional procedure, three cases of inpatient suicide, one case of wrong part procedure and one case of other categories. Among the 28 reported Serious Untoward Events, there were 27 related to medication error and one patient misidentification.

     "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 months of January, April, July and October. The next issue is scheduled on January 23, 2020 (Thursday) to dovetail with the publication of the Annual Report on Sentinel and Serious Untoward Events.