19th March 2023 – (Hong Kong) The Hospital Authority (HA) has reported two safety incidents that occurred in hospital facilities today (March 19). The incidents involved a shower curtain rail in United Christian Hospital (UCH) and a bedhead light in Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH). No serious injuries were reported in either incident, but the hospitals are taking measures to ensure patient safety and prevent similar incidents in the future.
The incident at UCH involved a shower curtain rail in an Orthopaedic and Traumatology ward. The rail, which has a suicide prevention design, suddenly fell down this morning and made contact with the thigh of a patient and the shoulder of a patient care assistant (PCA). Healthcare workers immediately arranged a medical examination for the patient, and it was confirmed that there were only minor bruises while the PCA was fine.
The shower curtain rail has an automatic mechanism that causes it to fall when heavy objects are hung on it. Maintenance staff inspected the bracket on which the shower curtain rail was placed and confirmed that it was not damaged. The cause of the falling is being investigated. UCH is very concerned about the incident and has expressed sympathy for the injured patient and staff through the Orthopaedic and Traumatology Department.
The incident at PMH involved a bedhead light in a surgical ward. A nurse moved the light aside to facilitate nursing intervention when it suddenly detached from the bedhead trunk. No patient or staff were injured in the incident. To ensure patient safety, PMH immediately arranged the patient to another bed and apologised. The hospital also arranged maintenance staff to repair and inspect all bedhead lights in the ward concerned. Patient services were not affected.
The hospitals have reported the incidents to the HA Head Office via the Advance Incident Reporting System. The HA has responded to the incidents by reminding hospital staff to pay attention to the maintenance and inspection of hospital facilities. The HA also emphasised the importance of maintaining and enhancing the safety of hospital facilities and preventing similar incidents from occurring in the future.