Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority to review maintenance of equipment and facilities after revealing slab of concrete fell onto bed
- Piece of concrete, about size of small backpack, fell onto empty bed at Castle Peak Hospital in November
- Authority says committee of experts will review response and management of several recent incidents related to maintenance work
Hong Kong hospital authorities have revealed plans to review the maintenance of equipment and facilities at public medical institutions after it said a slab of concrete fell onto a patient bed, one of three similar incidents.
The Hospital Authority made the announcement on Monday a day after it confirmed a piece of concrete, which was about the size of a small backpack, had fallen onto an empty bed at Castle Peak Hospital in Tuen Mun in November. It said no one was injured, but did not explain why it only disclosed the incident now.
In mid-February, a surgical light in United Christian Hospital fell and injured an anaesthesia assistant in the shoulder, while last week authorities ordered the inspection of ceiling hoists used to lift patients after an external cover fell off the track of one device at Tuen Mun Hospital.
An authority spokesman said a committee comprising experts from different professions, including the organisation’s board members, engineers and corporate communication specialists, would be formed to improve the policy direction for managing relevant issues in hospitals.
“Safety of patients and staff is the Hospital Authority’s utmost concern. The Hospital Authority has always been committed to providing a safe environment for our patients and healthcare staff,” he said.
The authority said it had requested all hospitals to complete preliminary inspections within one month and to strengthen existing maintenance.
Within three months, the committee would make recommendations on the response and overall management process in relation to several recent incidents tied hospital maintenance work, it said.