Sentinel Events Reported by Private Hospitals in 2024 (as at 31 October 2024)
| Sentinel Events | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| 1 | Surgery / interventional procedure involving a wrong patient or body part | - | 1(0) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1(0) | ||
| 2 | Retained instruments or other material after surgery / interventional procedure | - | - | 1(0) | - | - | - | - | 1(0) | 1(0) | - | ||
| 3 | ABO incompatibility blood transfusion | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 4 | Medication error resulting in major permanent loss of function or death | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 5 | Intravascular gas embolism resulting in death or neurological damage | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 6 | Death of an inpatient from suicide (including home leave) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 7 | Maternal death or serious morbidity associated with labour or delivery | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 8 | Infant discharged to wrong family or infant abduction | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 9 | Other adverse events resulting in permanent loss of function or death (excluding complications) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Summary of Sentinel Event in February 2024:
In February 2024, one sentinel event was reported by a private hospital. The event involved a 67-year-old male who had undergone spine surgery involving wrong spinal level.
Summary of Sentinel Event in March 2024:
In March 2024, one sentinel event was reported by private hospitals. The event involved retention of part of a surgical instrument in a 2-year-old male who had undergone adenoidectomy.
Summary of Sentinel Event in August 2024:
In August 2024, one sentinel event was reported by private hospitals. The event involved retention of a segment of a drain after right knee surgery in a 72-year-old male.
Summary of Sentinel Event in September 2024:
In September 2024, one sentinel event was reported by private hospitals. The event involved retention of a piece of gauze in the left knee after left knee surgery in a 32-year-old female.
Summary of Sentinel Event in October 2024:
In October 2024, one sentinel event was reported by private hospitals. The event involved a 46-year-old female who received an anaesthetic procedure on the wrong side of the body.
Serious Untoward Events Reported by Private Hospitals in 2024 (as at 30 September 2024)
| Serious Untoward Events | Jan-Mar | Apr-Jun | Jul-Sep | Oct-Dec | |
| 1 | Medication error which could have led to death or permanent harm or carries a significant public health risk | 4(0) | - | 2(0) | |
| 2 | Patient misidentification which could have led to death or permanent harm | - | - | - |
Highlight in first quarter of 2024
In the first quarter of 2024, four serious untoward events (SUE) of medication error were reported by private hospitals. The first SUE involved a patient who was erroneously administered with an oral antihypertensive when it should have been withheld. The second SUE involved a patient who was erroneously administered with the wrong dosage of an antianginal drug. The third SUE involved a patient who was erroneously injected with a muscle relaxant after an operation. The fourth SUE involved a patient who was administered with the wrong dosage of an intravenous opioid analgesic.
Highlight in third quarter of 2024
In the third quarter of 2024, two serious untoward events (SUE) of medication error were reported by private hospitals. The first SUE involved a patient who was administered an intravenous opioid analgesic at a wrong rate. The second SUE involved a patient who was administered wrong dosage of intravenous concentrated electrolytes.