Revealing staff involved in Hep C outbreak will breed blame culture: Health Minister

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An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:

Apparently WP's Leon Perera had asked in parliament for the disclosure of the names and punishments of the outbreak at SGH’s renal ward that claimed eight lives. But the minister refused to disclose and is trying to coverup.

8 people died but yet no proper public accountability, and the so called "punishment" is nothing more than a slap in the wrist.



http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/...tml?cid=twtcna

Revealing staff involved in Hep C outbreak will breed blame culture: Health Minister

Posted 04 Apr 2016 12:34


SINGAPORE: Revealing the names and specific sanctions received by staff from the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Singapore General Hospital (SGH) in the wake of the Hepatitis C outbreak last year would not “contribute to better care of patients”, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong in Parliament on Monday (Apr 4).

Mr Gan was responding to a question by Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Leon Perera, which called for the disclosure of the names and punishments of the outbreak at SGH’s renal ward that claimed eight lives.

In total, four MOH officers holding Director-level or equivalent roles and 12 SGH leaders including senior management were punished.

“Instead of focusing on naming the individuals and developing a blame culture in our healthcare institutions, we need to encourage a learning culture to make our hospitals as safe as possible for our patients,” said Mr Gan. “This culture of continual learning and improvement is important for enhancing patient safety and the quality of care.”

He added: “In deciding what to disclose, we have to bear in mind the longer-term impact on our healthcare system and healthcare workers, and strike a careful balance.”

Mr Gan reiterated that disciplinary sanctions, which included warnings, stern warning and financial penalties, were meted out.

“When a warning is issued, it is lodged in the staff’s service record. A stern warning is a more serious penalty. Not only is it entered into the staff’s service record, it has a negative bearing on his career, including future promotion and awards. A warning or stern warning may be given together with a fine,” he said.

“But the greatest penalty is not these disciplinary measures. For everyone involved, including those who had provided direct care to the affected patients, we will carry with us the pain and regret of this incident for a long time.”


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