XN000022-1996-01-31 — Page 3

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Medical gas cylinders incorrectly labelled

In response to media enquiries on mislabelled gas being supplied to hospitals, a government spokesman said today (Wednesday): "The Government has ordered an immediate investigation on the incident of mislabelled medical gases."

This followed complaint that medical CO2 gas cylinders supplied to hospitals had been incorrectly labelled as compressed air.

"Hong Kong Oxygen, the supplier of the gas, will investigate the incident and submit a detailed report to the Director of Fire Services and the Director of Health," the spokesman added.

He reassured the public that the four cylinders were filled with the correct gas (CO2) but labelled incorrectly. They had not been administered to patients.

"There was no possibility of incorrect gas being accidentally administered to patients. This is because all medical gas cylinders now in use employ a pin-index valve system. Each type of medical gas cylinder has a unique valve configuration which ensures correct fitting to the appropriate medical equipment," he added.

The spokesman pointed out that there had all along been guidelines issued by the Department of Health and Hospital Authority to private and public hospitals on the supply and use of medical gases.

"As a further precautionary measure, prompt action was taken by the Department of Health to inform all public and private hospitals of this incident. They were advised to check the colour coding and content of cylinders prior to use," he said.

The spokesman said a complaint was received from St Teresa's Hospital on January 27 claiming that some medical CO2 gas cylinders had been incorrectly labelled as medical air.

"Staff of the Fire Services Department (FSD), Department of Health (DH) and Hong Kong Oxygen (HKO) immediately visited the hospital to understand the situation," he said.

"In the same afternoon, the Department of Health immediately alerted all public and private hospitals requesting them to confirm identity of gases before use."