Tuesday, December 23, 2008 Three of Hong Kongs top health professionals were forced to make embarrassing apologies yesterday following the tragic death from a heart attack of a man who collapsed meters from a public hospital. Hospital Authority chief executive Shane Solomon and Caritas Medical Centre chief executive Ma Hok-cheung appeared together to make individual apologies over the death of a 56-year- old man who died on Saturday after his son, surnamed Yeung, was told to call 999 instead of being offered on-the-spot treatment just meters from the doors of the hospital. Solomon apologized to the mans family and the public, saying the Caritas Medical Centres response was inadequate. I appreciate public concerns and apologize to the family of the deceased and also members of the public for the confusion and anxiety in the past two days, he said. I am sure the son, and those who helped him, had a right to feel that his father would be safe being so close to the hospital. I am sorry that we did not offer what he was expecting. Caritas Medical Centre chief Ma was forced to retreat from earlier statements he made in defense of a clerks decision to tell the dead mans son to call 999 instead of alerting the hospitals accident and emergency department. We apologize to the family and the public. If this message wasnt relayed well previously, I am sorry for that, Ma said. Earlier yesterday, authority chairman Anthony Wu Ting-yuk also expressed apologies and regret. Sorry for causing public anxiety. Well ensure [we] serve the people of Hong Kong, he said. Wu also criticized the clerk, who is now on sick leave. I dont think she was intentionally not helping [the dying victim]. She might have been too nervous. But she should have called for help or gone to more experienced staff to get help. In his initial response to the tragedy on Sunday, Ma defended hospital staff for following guidelines. But yesterday he said: I still believe [the clerk] put forth her best efforts. Of course, there is room for improvement. Secretary for Food and Health York Chow Yat-ngok said guidelines are put in place to manage situations but need not always be followed rigidly. After a top level Hospital Authority meeting yesterday, Solomon said: The response [in a situation such as Saturdays] should be based on common sense, rather than bound by rigid guidelines. Under existing guidelines, staff at Caritas Medical Centre are required to call 999 if a patient is taken ill within hospital grounds. But staff at United Christian Hospital, another public hospital, are instructed to call the accident and emergency department V under its own guidelines. Yesterday, grieving son Yeung said he wanted to seek justice for his father and was busy taking care of funeral arrangements. http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_...1&sid=22007625&con_type=1&d_str=20081223&fc=2 ------
such a sad incident...these things should never happen. Hospital staff should have more common sense. Condolences to the family
明愛醫院 or Caritas Medical Centre, located in Sham Shui Po, is supposedly a horrible place, according to my sister in law. She used to live in Sham Shui Po and had been to their A&E Dept on several occasions. None was to her expectations or satisfaction. Map Source: http://www.geoexpat.com/resources/Detailed/6224.php
ahh these sad and tragic things... although they don't come often, it doesn't surprise me as much now.. just wish the family are ok but i would be pissed if my relative died because of a preventable mistake
