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Sentinel Event and Serious Untoward Event Statistics

Sentinel Events Reported by Private Hospitals in 2025 (as at 31 March 2025)

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 - - -
2 Retained instruments or other material after surgery / interventional procedure - - 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) - - -
* Number of fatal cases is indicated in bracket.

Summary of Sentinel Event in March 2025:

In March 2025, one sentinel event was reported by a private hospital. The event involved the retention of a piece of gauze in the oral cavity of an 11-year-old male who had undergone tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.

Serious Untoward Events Reported by Private Hospitals in 2025

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 1(0)
2 Patient misidentification which could have led to death or permanent harm -
* Number of fatal cases is indicated in bracket.

Highlight in first quarter of 2025:

In the first quarter of 2025, one serious untoward event (“SUE”) was reported by a private hospital. The event involved a patient who was administered intravenous chemotherapy at the wrong infusion rate.

Statistics of Sentinel Events and Serious Untoward Events Reported by Private Hospitals (by Year)