The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (November 22) urged the public not to consume a kind of cheese imported from France due to possible contamination with Yersinia enterocolitica. The trade should stop using or selling the product concerned immediately if they possess it.

     Product details are as follows:

Product name: Mont d'Or Fruitiere des Jarrons Cheese
Brand: Fruitiere des Jarrons
Place of origin: France 
Importer: Noja Fine Trade Limited
Pack size: 500 grams
Best before date: December 16, 2024

     A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS noted a notification from the French authorities that the above-mentioned product might have been contaminated with Yersinia enterocolitica and is being recalled. A preliminary investigation found that the above-mentioned importer had imported into Hong Kong the product concerned." 

     The importer concerned has stopped sales, removed from shelves the affected product and has initiated a recall. Members of the public may call the hotline of the importer at 2178 2229 during office hours for enquiries.

     "Yersinia enterocolitica can cause Yersiniosis, which is characterised by common symptoms of gastroenteritis such as fever, diarrhoea (often bloody in young children) and abdominal pain. The bacterium is usually acquired by eating or drinking contaminated food, including undercooked meat, unpasteurised milk products or contaminated water. Anyone can get Yersiniosis, but young children, the elderly, and people with weak immune systems are at a higher risk," the spokesman said.

     The CFS will alert the trade to the incident and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding an earlier announcement on Candida auris carrier cases, the spokesperson for Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital (HKBH) gave the following update today (November 22):
 
     One more female patient, aged 92, in a medical ward of HKBH, was confirmed to carry Candida auris without signs of infection. The patient is now under isolation care and is in stable condition.
 
     The hospital will continue the contact tracing investigation of close contacts of the patient in accordance with the prevailing guidelines. A series of enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted to prevent the spread of Candida auris:
 

1. Thorough cleaning and disinfection of the ward concerned;
2. Enhanced admission screening for patients and environmental screening procedures; and
3. Application of stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene of staff and patients. 
    

     The hospital will continue to closely monitor the situation of the patient. The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow up.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding an earlier announcement on Candida auris carrier cases, the spokesperson for Haven of Hope Hospital (HHH) gave the following update today (November 22): 
 
     One more male patient, aged 74 in the pulmonary ward of HHH, was confirmed to carry Candida auris without signs of infection. The patient was transferred to the United Christian Hospital today to continue receiving treatment in isolation. His condition is stable.
 
     The hospital will continue the contact tracing investigation of close contacts of the patient in accordance with the prevailing guidelines. A series of enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted to prevent the spread of Candida auris:
 
1. Thorough cleaning and disinfection of the ward concerned;
2. Enhanced admission screening for patients and environmental screening procedures; and
3. Application of stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene of staff and patients.
 
     The hospital will continue to closely monitor the patient's condition. The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow up.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) today (November 22) released the report of the Review Committee on the Management of the Public Hospital System (the Review Committee). The HA fully accepts the report and will gradually implement all recommendations as soon as possible to enhance governance, strengthen safety and actively promote reforms. With a spirit of innovation and change, the HA will strive to improve its services comprehensively. The HA will focus on strengthening governance, enhancing accountability, and fostering a safety culture to ensure thorough follow-up and effective implementation of measures to build a public hospital system that meets the needs of the community.
 
     The Chairman of the HA, Mr Henry Fan, stated, "We express our profound gratitude to the Review Committee (Annex 1), led by Professor Fok Tai-fai, for conducting a comprehensive review of public hospital management matters. The Review Committee worked tirelessly. In addition to holding intensive meetings and reviewing documents, the Review Committee also visited public hospitals for on-site inspections several times and met with frontline staff, hospital management, patients, and relatives. The report is highly detailed, summarising the challenges faced by the HA into five key areas and proposing 31 improvement recommendations. Each recommendation is invaluable and will profoundly impact the future operations, governance, and patient safety of public hospitals."

     Mr Fan emphasised that the HA fully understands that pursuing change and innovation to meet the needs of the public is the fundamental basis for the sustainable development of the public healthcare system and for enhancing the well-being of citizens. Therefore, the HA will align with the Government's direction and fully implement the Review Committee's recommendations as soon as possible.

     The HA will establish a high-level Governance and Structural Reform Committee (Reform Committee) under the HA Board. This Reform Committee will be chaired by Mr Fan and include representatives from the Health Bureau, as well as members with extensive experience in corporate governance. The Reform Committee will provide advice on governance and structural reforms for the HA, guiding it to address challenges ahead. The remaining recommendations will be followed up and implemented through the existing structure of the HA. Departments and the Reform Committee will regularly report their progress to the Health Bureau and the HA Board.
 
     The Chairman of the Review Committee, Professor Fok, remarked, "Over the past few months, the Review Committee has focused on reviewing governance issues in the public hospital system and providing forward-looking improvement recommendations. These suggestions aim to assist the HA in enhancing risk management, strengthening governance, and reinforcing safety to address future challenges."
 
     The Review Committee acknowledged that the HA manages one of the world's largest and most complex healthcare systems. The rate of sentinel events in Hong Kong public hospitals was approximately 0.32 per 100 000 population, significantly lower than rates in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and other countries. The Review Committee also recognised several strengths within the HA system, including a professional and dedicated healthcare workforce, an advanced incident reporting system, and proactive adoption of information technology.
 
     The Review Committee proposed 31 improvement recommendations (Annex 2), which primarily focus on the following areas:
 

1. Strengthening governance

• Clarify the roles, responsibilities, and authority of different levels of staff in relation to quality and safety;
• Clearly define the specific roles, responsibilities, and objectives of the Head Office, hospital clusters, individual hospitals, and departments regarding quality and safety.

2. Enhancing accountability

• Develop a patient safety accountability framework for senior management, incorporating safety metrics into performance appraisals evaluations to hold senior leaders accountable for patient safety;
• Introduce a just culture framework where staff accountability is determined based on established guidelines that distinguish between human error, at-risk behaviour, and reckless conduct, with appropriate response protocols.

3. Fostering a culture of safety

• Implement a safety culture programme that prioritises non-punitive reporting;
• Create a "speak-up" culture, provide staff training and develop an open communication environment;
• Promote a healthy risk culture, offer training to enhance their risk awareness and competency;
• Strengthen clinical supervision and guidance to improve junior staff's skills, competencies, and effectiveness, ensuring care safety.

4. Other recommendations

• Establish a rapid incident response team;
• Design a spokesperson preparedness programme;
• Establish clear incident public disclosure guidelines;
• Align resources with service demand.

     The HA will fully align with policy directions of the Government, formulate comprehensive plans, and monitor the progress and effectiveness of the implementation of the recommendations. This will enhance the HA's governance and safety, ensuring the continued provision of high-quality healthcare services to patients.

      The Labour Department (LD) is investigating a fatal work accident that happened in Tung Chung this afternoon (November 22) in which a man died. 
 
     The LD immediately deployed staff to the scene upon receiving a report of the accident, and is now conducting an investigation to look into its cause.