“HA Risk Alert” latest issue published

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
 
     The 59th issue of "HA Risk Alert" was published today (October 30) 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 2020 (April to June), there were nine Sentinel Events reported, comprising five cases of retained instrument after surgery/interventional procedure, three cases of inpatient suicide and one case of wrong side procedure. Among the 17 reported Serious Untoward Events, there were 15 related to medication error and two patient misidentifications.
 
     "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 for January 29, 2021 (Friday), to dovetail with the publication of the Annual Report on Sentinel and Serious Untoward Events.