Press Releases
SFH on Tuen Mun Hospital overseas expert report and infection control at Yan Chai Hospital
Following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) made by the
Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, after attending a public
function this afternoon (November 11):
Reporter: (on Tuen Mun Hospital overseas expert report concerning the death
of a 13-year-old boy)
Secretary for Food and Health: I do not have the report yet. This is a very
important case and it is very regrettable that a patient died after surgery.
It is a major surgery that carries certain risks. According to what I have
gathered, the patient developed asphyxia after the extubation of
intratracheal tube. The reason why he had developed asphyxia need to be
investigated and I believe this can only come out at the Coronor's
investigation.
Reporter: Did you ask Tuen Mun Hospital why some pages were missing in the
report?
Secretary for Food and Health: I did not know how many pages of the report
were given to the family. So I cannot respond to that.
Reporter: (on infection control at Yan Chai Hospital)
Secretary for Food and Health: It is the policy of hospital and also all
types of institutions to ensure that the opportunity of cross-infection
should be cut down. It is important to isolate patients who have,
particularly in this case, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA),
which is infectious and can be carried on and infect other patients and also
staff of the hospital. The procedures require that such patients are needed
to be isolated in certain areas, either in a separate ward or special
cubicle. There are special procedures for infection control and I think it
is important to ensure that such procedures are being followed.
Reporter: Does this situation arise because of overcrowding? Does the
hospital not have enough beds?
Secretary for Food and Health: I have no idea exactly why they have to
transfer patients to a new area. I have asked the Hospital Authority to
clarify this.
Reporter: Will you ask the Tuen Mun Hospital Chief Executive to explain what
happened yesterday?
Secretary for Food and Health: I was told that he interviewed the family of
the patient and explained to them the content of the report by the overseas
expert. He felt that the family was very much aggrieved and would not accept
the outcome of that report. Because of that, I think the hospital decided it
was not appropriate to have the press conference in front of the family.
Reporter: Will you ask Tuen Mun Hospital to explain to you why some pages of
the report were missing?
Secretary for Food and Health: I would ask them what the exact details of
the report are. But I believe that the report should not be omitting certain
pages at all because eventually this report will come out. Perhaps it would
be up to the Coroner's decision eventually to have the most detailed and
explainable facts of the situation.
(Please also refer to the
Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Friday, November 11, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:19
NNNN