Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ3: Safeguarding psychiatric in-patients

     Following is a question by the Hon Tsang Yok-sing and an oral reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (February 2):

 

Question:

 

     It has been reported that in the middle of last month, some mass media organisations received a video clip showing a male psychiatric in-patient of Kwai Chung Hospital massaging a male nurse.  In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

 

(a) when the Hospital Authority (HA) learnt of the incident;

 

(b) whether HA has investigated the incident; if so, how the investigation was conducted and whether it will release the findings; and

 

(c) whether HA will review the operation of Kwai Chung Hospital, and of the mechanism for safeguarding psychiatric in-patients against unreasonable treatments?

 

Reply:

 

Madam President,

 

(a) The Hospital Authority (HA) learnt about the incident on January 17, 2005, upon receipt of an enquiry from the media.  The HA has not received any compliant in respect of the incident. 

 

(b) The HA is very concerned about the incident and has referred the matter on the same day of the receipt of the media enquiry to Kwai Chung Hospital (KCH) for follow-up and investigation.  According to the result of the hospital's initial investigation, the incident happened about half a year ago.  It involved a male psychiatric patient massaging a male nurse whom he knew well.  Another male nurse was testing his new digital camera and recorded the process of the massaging.  KCH formally commissioned an Investigation Committee to examine the incident in depth.  It also reported the incident to the Hong Kong Nursing Council.  The Investigation Committee has already completed its report and submitted it to the Deputy Hospital Chief Executive of KCH on January 24, 2005.  The conclusion of the report is that the acts of the two staff concerned constituted improper behaviour.  KCH will take disciplinary action against the two staff in accordance with existing procedures. 

 

(c) KCH will review whether there are areas in its operation that should be improved, so as to prevent the occurrence of similar incidents.

 

     There are existing mechanisms in all HA hospitals (including KCH) to ensure that hospital staff would provide patients with quality medical care. Ward mangers monitor the daily operation in hospital wards, which include the level of service provided to patients by staff.  Hospital staff should also comply with service guidelines, such as the Patients' Charter, Code of Professional Conduct and Code of Ethics, and the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance.  Psychiatric Nurses in KCH are also required to observe the Nursing Standards for General Psychiatry and the Nursing Manual of KCH.  In addition, the HA conducts clinical audits from time to time, so as to ensure the quality of service provided by its hospitals and clinics. 

 

Ends/Wednesday, February 2, 2005

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