XN000022-1989-07-19 — Page 39

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1989

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ACTION AGAINST SUPPLIER OF GAS TO HOSPITAL

LEGAL ACTION IS BEING TAKEN AGAINST THE SUPPLIER OF GAS TO A HOSPITAL AND THE HEARING HAS BEEN SET FOR AUGUST 24 IN THE MAGISTRATE'S COURT, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON GEOFFREY BARNES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE ACTION WAS BEING TAKEN UNDER SECTIONS 10(A) AND 14 OF THE DANGEROUS GOODS ORDINANCE, MR BARNES SAID IN REPLYING то A QUESTION FROM DR THE HON LEONG CHE-HUNG.

THE

DR LEONG HAD ASKED, IN THE LIGHT OF THE VERDICT IN A CORONER'S INQUEST THAT THE DEATH OF A WOMAN IN THE HOSPITAL IN JANUARY WAS DUE TO THE WRONG SUPPLY OF GAS, WHAT ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN CONCERNING SUPPLIER, AND TO ENSURE THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE JURY WERE IMPLEMENTED.

MR BARNES SAID THE RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE INQUEST JURY COULD BE BROADLY CATEGORISED IN FIVE PARTS, AND WENT ON TO DEAL WITH THESE.

ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ACADEMY OF

MEDICINE, HE SAID THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE HAD ADVISED THAT CAREFUL CONSIDERATION WAS BEING GIVEN TO THIS.

SUCH AN ACADEMY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FURTHER TRAINING OF DOCTORS, AND THE ADMINISTRATION'S INTENTIONS WOULD BE ANNOUNCED IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

+

ON MONITORING DEVICES, MR BARNES SAID SHORTLY AFTER THE TRAGIC INCIDENT, THE THEN DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES HAD, ON JANUARY 21, ISSUED A CIRCULAR ΤΟ ALL GOVERNMENT, SUBVENTED AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS, PROVIDING DETAILED GUIDELINES ON THE SUPPLY AND USE OF OXYGEN IN HOSPITALS AND CLINICS.

"THE DIRECTOR OF HOSPITAL SERVICES ISSUED A FURTHER CIRCULAR ON JUNE 21 TO ALL HOSPITAL MANAGEMENTS, DRAWING THEIR ATTENTION TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INQUEST JURY ON THE INSTALLATION AND USE OF MONITORING DEVICES FOR EVERY OPERATION INVOLVING GENERAL ANAESTHESIA," HE SAID.

OF A WORKING PARTY TO CONDUCT AN SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES OF THE GAS DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES WAS

AND THE GAS SUPPLIER

NOW

TO

AS TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OVERALL REVIEW OF THE SAFETY SUPPLIER, MR BARNES SAID THE LIAISING WITH RELEVANT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS SET UP SUCH A WORKING PARTY.

THE FIRST MEETING WOULD BE IN AUGUST.

AND

BY

THE

"THIS WORKING PARTY WILL ALSO BE ASKED то EXAMINE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED BY THE GAS SUPPLIER

CONSIDER APPROPRIATE ADMINISTRATIONS, HE SAID.

ΤΟ

MONITORING

ARRANGEMENTS

MR BARNES SAID THE RECOMMENDATION TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION ON COLOUR CODING FOR GAS CONTAINERS WOULD BE ADDRESSED BY WORKING GROUP WHICH WAS ALREADY CONDUCTING A REVIEW OF GOODS ORDINANCE.

THE SEPARATE

THE

DANGEROUS

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