Following the revelation of the ceiling incidents in Kwai Chung Hospital, the Castle Peak Hospital, and the United Christian Hospital in Hong Kong in November 2022, another ceiling collapse was reported in Kwai Chung Hospital on March 7.
Just as the Hong Kong Hospital Authority announced the establishment of a special committee to review medical facilities, safety, and maintenance in public hospitals, and the public thought they could rest easy, a second ceiling collapse occurred at Kwai Chung Hospital.
Dr. Tony Ko Pat Sing, Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital Authority, announced that the authority had received a report at about 3 a.m. on March 8 that a ceiling collapsed in a ward at Kwai Chung Hospital. Concrete fell from above and damaged furniture and computer equipment in the patient ward.
Ko said the authorities had made arrangements for repair and had sealed off the involved area to ensure the safety of patients and staff.
An Instagram user named “hanosecretshk” posted on March 8, revealing the ceiling collapse incident in a Kwai Chung Hospital ward on March 7. The photo uploaded shows the concrete that fell and damaged a printer and computer in the ward.
Ko held a news conference on March 8, stating that no one was hurt.
Ko apologized for the multiple accidents recently and announced the Hospital Authority had established a special committee, the Committee of Hospital Maintenance, Repair of Medical Equipment and Facility, to investigate the incidents.
Depending on the review of medical equipment, facilities, and mechanism, the authority must complete the assessment and follow-up proposal within three months.
Ko stressed that the Hospital Authority was very concerned about the incidents and would do its best to ensure a safe medical treatment and working environment for patients and employees.
Additionally, he said the bureau would follow up promptly, and violations would not be tolerated.
Yuen Ka-hing, administrative director of Kwai Chung Hospital, added that at about 3 a.m. on March 8, colleagues heard loud bangs coming from the first floor in Block L.
Later, hospital staff discovered a piece of concrete, about 30 cm by 30 cm, had fallen from the ceiling.
The total area affected was about 1.5 square meters, and the hospital patients had immediately been relocated.
Ching Wai-kuen, Director of Strategic Development of the Hospital Authority, pointed out, “The department has already requested seven networked facility management teams to inspect medical instruments, indoor building structures, and the exterior of the buildings. The teams will also prioritize any large machinery which showed signs of water leakage, loosening or peeling.”
The investigation is expected to be complete within a month.
When asked by the reporter why social platforms were first to reveal two of the recent ceiling collapse incidents and whether the Hospital Authority tried to conceal the situation, Ko clarified, “The Hospital Authority has always been open and transparent with hospital accidents. As soon as preliminary information becomes available, the authority will announce the details immediately.”
Media has pointed out that Fujitac Construction & Engineering Consultants was responsible for building inspections for both hospitals where concrete fell from the ceiling.
Multiple Accidents Occurred in Public Hospitals
It is not the first time something has collapsed in public hospitals. In February, a surgical lamp fell from the ceiling at the United Christian Hospital, and an anesthesia assistant was hit and hurt on the shoulder.After investigation, the Hospital Authority found that 23 surgical lights had loose or broken screws.
On the evening of March 1, the Hospital Authority received a report from Tuen Mun Hospital that some part of a patient crane lift track had fallen off in an internal medicine and geriatrics rehabilitation ward.
When the incident occurred, the patient had already passed through the track. No patient or staff was injured.
Instagram user “hanosecretshk” revealed on March 4 that in November 2022, concrete the size of half a pillow fell off from the ceiling to the bedside in a ward at Castle Peak Hospital.
But the Hospital Authority never informed the public of the incident.
In response to media inquiries on March 5, the Hospital Authority confirmed that the Castle Peak Hospital incident occurred at the end of November 2022. No patients or employees were injured in the incident. The authority thought the concrete fell off due to water leakage.
On May 30, 2022, Tuen Mun Hospital had a similar incident in which concrete fell from the ceiling of a male bathroom in the radiotherapy building of the hospital. Later, it was reported that some parts of the ceiling structure had aged and became loose before collapsing.
No one was injured when the incident occurred.
