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) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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 | - | - |
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.