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Sentinel Event and Serious Untoward Event Statistics

Sentinel Events Reported by Private Hospitals in 2024 (as at 31 August 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) - - - - - -
2 Retained instruments or other material after surgery / interventional procedure - - 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) - - - - - - - -
* Number of fatal cases is indicated in bracket.

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.

Serious Untoward Events Reported by Private Hospitals in 2024 (as at 30 June 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 Patient misidentification which could have led to death or permanent harm - -
* Number of fatal cases is indicated in bracket.

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.

Statistics of Sentinel Events and Serious Untoward Events Reported by Private Hospitals (by Year)