Stern Warning And Fines To SGH Staff For Hep 'C' Deaths! Let's Move On!

[Thick Face Black Heart]

Is Is a Honest mistake.....let us MOVE ON!

How many more deaths must occur at our hospitals in order for someone to wake up and put a stop to this cycle of incompetence and lack of accountability?

This case truly stinks.

 

[GoldenDragon]

Here is a little insight on this scandal. This is probably the best media managed episode of incompetence of pretty much of an epic scale. So much so that Singaporeans have no idea how bad this and may think that the authorities are up front and proper but do not realise that it is a major

failure in leadership and the enormity of this has been downplayed. It also reeks of a cover-up of senior leadership. They crucified the female midshipman in court for the naval collision in 2003 which resulted in death of 4 female sailors but this is 25 infection and 8


deaths the severity of it was not realised or appreciated for 4 months.

Background:
Singhealth as a cluster has 2 Hospitals - SGH and KK. And SGH is the biggest hospital in
Singapore. This Group CEO is the wife of the Minister of Defence and under her there are deputy CEOs and range of senior management staff. The Singhealth Board is headed by Ho Ching and PM's favourite Corporate Captain
Peter Seah, the one who is the non Executive

chairman of DBS but was questioned in the media for drawing an Executive salary of close to $2m. The board also comprises senior luminaries.

The Scandal:
In late May 2015, the staff in the Renal Unit realised that they a full blown contamination. Mostly transplant patient. 4 months later
despite positive confirmation of 15 cases and 7
deaths associated with these cases, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and the Group CEO and the wife of the Minister of Defence had no clue. They found out on 3 September. The Group Chief Risk Officer of

Singhealth whose duty would involve managing

such a major outbreak of this nature was not involved. On 18 September, the Minister of Health was notified. 2 days later on 20 September, The Chairman of the Singhealth

Board and the Chairman of the Board Risk Oversight Committee found out for the first
time. Bear in mind that this Ministry not only has Gan Kim Yong as Minister but also have 1 Senior of State, Amy Khor, and 2 Ministers of State, Lam Pin Ming and Chee Hong Tat. What
were they doing over 4 months. On 30th Sept, the 8th and final death occurred with a total of

25 cases of contamination confirmed and the majority are transplant cases. And only in the second week of September, 5 months after the outbreak occurred did they stop the transplants
and move the cases to NUH.

Are you telling me that these cases and deaths were deliberately hidden or that the senior political and non political leadership were so high up in the ivory tower that no one could
reach them. Why have so many people in leadership positions drawing so much money but were not in a position to manage the situations. Some of these deaths could have been avoided and the families of those who donated their organs would not have seen them
go to waste.

The actual cause:
I bet as conditioned Singaporeans, you guys after all these months and the press releases until yesterday have no idea what led to this
debacle. It is actually straight forward and more the reason why most of these deaths were unnecessary. It is a blood borne contamination. It was traced to poor procedures where medical carts were not cleaned and blood stains were found on these carts, and on walls. Seriously
has our nursing standards hit rock bottom. And this Unit handles organ transplants. Even a uneducated petrol pump attendant will not smoke a cigarette while attending the pump. Nothing sophisticated.

The ones who were disciplined:
None of the political appointees, nor the Group CEO and the wife of the Minister of Defence were amongst those disciplined. Nor were
Board Chairman or the PS. It was only the second rung of the leadership who were crucified and I do agree that this lot should face the music.

Excess and wastage;
Why bother having a group and cluster structure when it clearly evident that they were not used, had no idea of the worst outbreak of contamination in Singapore's medical history as well as the highest death toll and worst still
the loss of valuable organs that were donated.

Here is the leadership of Singhealth who had no idea what was going on and therefore played no part.
1) Sr Leadership - https:// www.singhealth.com.sg/Abo...urLeadership/SeniorManagement/Pages/Home.aspx
2) The Board -https://www.singhealth.com.sg/AboutSingHealth/CorporateOverview/OurLeadership/BoardofDirectors/Pages/
Home.aspx

It will remain to be seen if Prof Ivy Ng and the wife of the Minister of Defence and the PS for MOH Mrs Tan Ching Yee will be removed from their ivory tower. If PSC has any iota of moral
responsibility they would know what to do. This is a classic failure in leadership. They ran their respective shops where the mechanism for escalation was inadequate, woeful and both had not idea of the raging fire until the house burnt down. And this is not minor episode. This

is largest outbreak of contamination in our medical history plus the highest death toll. As for ehe Chairman of Singheatlh, he only knew after the Minister. Maybe they should take away his beloved bike for the time being.

I have no issues where the likes of Ang Chong Lye and Jeffrey Cutter are disciplined but they are just major cogs in the hierarchy. This however is a structural failure. This cannot stop
here.

ps. how much compensation was paid out to keep this out of the courts? Another chapter?

good post, bro. informative and great analyses. hope this matter is brought up during BE. the links of those responsible to their backers
is not known to many. i dare say less than 5% of BB voters are aware of the connections highlighted in your post.

i m dead certain they knew but had to claim otherwise for the sake of GE. may be time for MOH to start its own intelligence division!

 

[jw5]

good post, bro. informative and great analyses. hope this matter is brought up during BE. the links of those responsible to their backers
is not known to many. i dare say less than 5% of BB voters are aware of the connections highlighted in your post.

i m dead certain they knew but had to claim otherwise for the sake of GE. may be time for MOH to start its own intelligence division!

I am getting this creepy feeling..................................

 

[winnipegjets]

yes i would like to know the total sum of the compensation paid to the victims.

Life time free medical care with a max cap of $500k.

 

[winnipegjets]

Here is a little insight on this scandal. This is probably the best media managed episode of incompetence of pretty much of an epic scale. So much so that Singaporeans have no idea how bad this and may think that the authorities are up front and proper but do not realise that it is a major failure in leadership and the enormity of this has been downplayed. It also reeks of a cover-up of senior leadership. They crucified the female midshipman in court for the naval collision in 2003 which resulted in death of 4 female sailors but this is 25 infection and 8 deaths the severity of it was not realised or appreciated for 4 months.

Background:
Singhealth as a cluster has 2 Hospitals - SGH and KK. And SGH is the biggest hospital in Singapore. This Group CEO is the wife of the Minister of Defence and under her there are deputy CEOs and range of senior management staff. The Singhealth Board is headed by Ho Ching and PM's favourite Corporate Captain Peter Seah, the one who is the non Executive chairman of DBS but was questioned in the media for drawing an Executive salary of close to $2m. The board also comprises senior luminaries.

The Scandal:
In late May 2015, the staff in the Renal Unit realised that they a full blown contamination. Mostly transplant patient. 4 months later despite positive confirmation of 15 cases and 7 deaths associated with these cases, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and the Group CEO and the wife of the Minister of Defence had no clue. They found out on 3 September. The Group Chief Risk Officer of Singhealth whose duty would involve managing such a major outbreak of this nature was not involved. On 18 September, the Minister of Health was notified. 2 days later on 20 September, The Chairman of the Singhealth Board and the Chairman of the Board Risk Oversight Committee found out for the first time. Bear in mind that this Ministry not only has Gan Kim Yong as Minister but also have 1 Senior of State, Amy Khor, and 2 Ministers of State, Lam Pin Ming and Chee Hong Tat. What were they doing over 4 months. On 30th Sept, the 8th and final death occurred with a total of 25 cases of contamination confirmed and the majority are transplant cases. And only in the second week of September, 5 months after the outbreak occurred did they stop the transplants and move the cases to NUH.

Are you telling me that these cases and deaths were deliberately hidden or that the senior political and non political leadership were so high up in the ivory tower that no one could reach them. Why have so many people in leadership positions drawing so much money but were not in a position to manage the situations. Some of these deaths could have been avoided and the families of those who donated their organs would not have seen them go to waste.

The actual cause:
I bet as conditioned Singaporeans, you guys after all these months and the press releases until yesterday have no idea what led to this debacle. It is actually straight forward and more the reason why most of these deaths were unnecessary. It is a blood borne contamination. It was traced to poor procedures where medical carts were not cleaned and blood stains were found on these carts, and on walls. Seriously has our nursing standards hit rock bottom. And this Unit handles organ transplants. Even a uneducated petrol pump attendant will not smoke a cigarette while attending the pump. Nothing sophisticated.

The ones who were disciplined:
None of the political appointees, nor the Group CEO and the wife of the Minister of Defence were amongst those disciplined. Nor were Board Chairman or the PS. It was only the second rung of the leadership who were crucified and I do agree that this lot should face the music.

Excess and wastage;
Why bother having a group and cluster structure when it clearly evident that they were not used, had no idea of the worst outbreak of contamination in Singapore's medical history as well as the highest death toll and worst still the loss of valuable organs that were donated.

Here is the leadership of Singhealth who had no idea what was going on and therefore played no part.
1) Sr Leadership - https://www.singhealth.com.sg/About...urLeadership/SeniorManagement/Pages/Home.aspx
2) The Board -https://www.singhealth.com.sg/AboutSingHealth/CorporateOverview/OurLeadership/BoardofDirectors/Pages/Home.aspx

It will remain to be seen if Prof Ivy Ng and the wife of the Minister of Defence and the PS for MOH Mrs Tan Ching Yee will be removed from their ivory tower. If PSC has any iota of moral responsibility they would know what to do. This is a classic failure in leadership. They ran their respective shops where the mechanism for escalation was inadequate, woeful and both had not idea of the raging fire until the house burnt down. And this is not minor episode. This is largest outbreak of contamination in our medical history plus the highest death toll. As for ehe Chairman of Singheatlh, he only knew after the Minister. Maybe they should take away his beloved bike for the time being.

I have no issues where the likes of Ang Chong Lye and Jeffrey Cutter are disciplined but they are just major cogs in the hierarchy. This however is a structural failure. This cannot stop here.

ps. how much compensation was paid out to keep this out of the courts? Another chapter?

With so many professors in senior management, their incompetence reflects poorly on the institution that gave them the professorship.

 

[winnipegjets]

The Health Minister should be fired and made to pay back his compensation for the last 10 years.
The Group CEO should be fired and be personally liable to pay each patient $2 million each.
The MOH perm sec should be fired and lose her pension.

The PM should make a public apology and forgo his compensation this year.
The government should compensate the family $5 million each and provide free lifetime medical care for them.

The government will shirk from its responsibility. So much for PAP meritocracy. Sinkees have been conned.

 

[winnipegjets]

Why isn't the name of those disciplined published?

Why is the PAP protecting the incompetents?

These folks should have been fired and not ever get a job in the same field again.

The whole report should be made available for the public to critique.

Is the cause of this outbreak contributed by cost-cutting measures by management?

Dead sinkees are no of no concern to the PAP government. PAP is the party that kills sinkees and sell out the country to India.

 

[virus]

why are they not promoted yet? they ve done such an excellent job considered the SAF case, it took 2 man to finish one NSF.

 

[scroobal]

After 4 cases of infection, their lab results showed that it was a particular strain of Hep C that was not common. This was in late April. This means that there is significant contamination and at that point in time, all transplants should have been stopped, the Renal unit should have been locked down. NUH was more than capable of taking over the transplant cases. Instead they assumed that either these patents came in infected or got it at the dialysis centre. Both were notified while the contamination continued to spread.

When MOH's Director of Medical Services was briefed on 3 September, he realised that the house had already burnt down. This guy was hoping for a miracle to save his corporate bud and decided to get A*Star to verify if the strain identified by SGH in late April was indeed correct. The strain was the key and he must be hoping that it was wrongly classified. On 7 Sept, A*Star validated SGH's findings. Clutching of the straw after 4 months was futile.

Salma Khalik of SPH is the Senior Heatlh correspondent for years and years. More than 3 decades with SPH. She is well respected. She would have seen thru this, would have the right contacts to verify. She did not move. It was that explosive.

The Independent Review Committee like the review committee is only independent similar to WKS's, Deputy Secretary of MHA sitting on the Mas Selmat escape review committee. The committee did not disclose or did not cover the following areas of concern with right level of attention

1) how many transplant patients were affected
2) did not ascertain or disclose the timeline of each patients infection and death so no one has any idea how many cases and deaths could have been avoided if the right course of actions has taken place at the end of each month.
3) the Nursing standards. It appears to be glossed over despite that this was primary reason for the contamination. The chief nurse of SGH is also concurrently the Grouo Chief Nurse of Singhealth cluster.

When WP asked for a COI for this in October 2016. I was surprised as it did not seem serious. I now suspect that someone from the medical fraternity must have reached out to them.

good post, bro. informative and great analyses. hope this matter is brought up during BE. the links of those responsible to their backers
is not known to many. i dare say less than 5% of BB voters are aware of the connections highlighted in your post.

i m dead certain they knew but had to claim otherwise for the sake of GE. may be time for MOH to start its own intelligence division!

 

[frenchbriefs]

Life time free medical care with a max cap of $500k.

lol what?is SGH some kind of supermarket or fitness first gym center now?what about the patients that are dead?

 

[johnny333]

There is a high degree of accountability in Singapore. When politicians have affairs, they resign. When top civil servants make procedural mistakes, they receive stern warnings, fines and have their guaranteed promotions delayed by a year.

Kind of difficult for the PAP to ignore the affair when the cuckold husband is probably going to make it a court case i.e. end up in divorce.

 

[virus]

lol what?is SGH some kind of supermarket or fitness first gym center now?what about the patients that are dead?

they have been reduced to ashes... there is not a shred of evidence left to pinpoint anyone in particular who has been slack, all these punishments are uncalled for, people should resort back to logical thinking that these patients died of natural causes.

if compensation is demand, then at most a stool in the SGH park would be appropriated provided to the aggrieved.

and no worries, they will be given priority seats.


Leongsam

 

[johnny333]

Why isn't the name of those disciplined published?

Why is the PAP protecting the incompetents?

These folks should have been fired and not ever get a job in the same field again.

The whole report should be made available for the public to critique.

Is the cause of this outbreak contributed by cost-cutting measures by management?

Dead sinkees are no of no concern to the PAP government. PAP is the party that kills sinkees and sell out the country to India.

If I needed treatment. I would boycott SGH.

I only have one life & don't want to take the chance of being a victim of an "honest mistake"

 

[GoldenDragon]

After 4 cases of infection, their lab results showed that it was a particular strain of Hep C that was not common. This was in late April. This means that there is significant contamination and at that point in time, all transplants should have been stopped, the Renal unit should have been locked down. NUH was more than capable of taking over the transplant cases. Instead they assumed that either
these patents came in infected or got it at the dialysis centre. Both were notified while the contamination continued to spread.

When MOH's Director of Medical Services was briefed on 3 September,
he realised that the house had already burnt down. This guy was hoping for a miracle to save his corporate bud and decided to get A*Star to verify if the strain identified by SGH in late April was indeed correct. The strain was the key and he must be hoping that it was wrongly classified. On 7 Sept, A*Star validated SGH's findings. Clutching of the straw after 4
months was futile.

Salma Khalik of SPH is the Senior Heatlh correspondent for years and years. More than 3 decades with SPH. She is well respected. She would
have seen thru this, would have the right contacts to verify. She did not
move. It was that explosive.

The Independent Review Committee like the review committee is only
independent similar to WKS's, Deputy Secretary of MHA sitting on the Mas Selmat escape review committee. The committee did not disclose or
did not cover the following areas of concern with right level of attention

1) how many transplant patients were affected
2) did not ascertain or disclose the timeline of each patients infection and
death so no one has any idea how many cases and deaths could have
been avoided if the right course of actions has taken place at the end of each month.
3) the Nursing standards. It appears to be glossed over despite that this
was primary reason for the contamination. The chief nurse of SGH is also concurrently the Grouo Chief Nurse of Singhealth cluster.

When WP asked for a COI for this in October 2016. I was surprised as it did not seem serious. I now suspect that someone from the medical
fraternity must have reached out to them.

i don't know the details but just the macro of this incident. imo, those who should know miscalculated. given their links, their incompetencies had to be covered up. to suggest none of those who should know but didnt is simply unbelievable.

 

[frenchbriefs]

they have been reduced to ashes... there is not a shred of evidence left to pinpoint anyone in particular who has been slack, all these punishments are uncalled for, people should resort back to logical thinking that these patients died of natural causes.

if compensation is demand, then at most a stool in the SGH park would be appropriated provided to the aggrieved.

and no worries, they will be given priority seats.


Leongsam

maybe next time we can use the mrt as a place of remembrance.priority seats has been given to relatives of loved ones who died in NS,SGH,suicide or nicoll highway or any place of unfortunate incident.

 

[scroobal]

I still haven't found the smoking gun that this is connected to GE2015. Furthermore the medical fraternity is tightly knit like the legal fraternity and transplant patients dying is not something that can be kept quiet. So you do have a strong point. SGH is the biggest hospital in Singapore and SInghealth and GCEO and Board Chairman as well 1 minister, 3 ministers of state and the Perm Sec who have oversight had no clue. Not that this happened in a clinic is Pulau Tekong. I don't think that something like this ever happened in Singapore

i don't know the details but just the macro of this incident. imo, those who should know miscalculated. given their links, their incompetencies had to be covered up. to suggest none of those who should know but didnt is simply unbelievable.

 

[GoldenDragon]

I still haven't found the smoking gun that this is connected to GE2015. Furthermore the medical fraternity is tightly knit like the legal fraternity and transplant patients dying is not something that can be kept quiet. So you do have a strong point. SGH is the biggest hospital in Singapore and SInghealth and GCEO and Board Chairman as well 1 minister, 3 ministers of state and the Perm Sec who have oversight had no clue. Not that this happened in a clinic is Pulau Tekong. I don't think that something like this ever happened in Singapore

I will ask my doctor friends when we meet up for makan. They aren't aware of my presence here so quite safe to probe. One even explained the events leading to Susan Lim's exposure years ago. A pity he left for the private sector recently so may not be au fait with some 'sensitive' cases in the govt hospitals now.

 

[enterprise2]

After 4 cases of infection, their lab results showed that it was a particular strain of Hep C that was not common. This was in late April. This means that there is significant contamination and at that point in time, all transplants should have been stopped, the Renal unit should have been locked down. NUH was more than capable of taking over the transplant cases. Instead they assumed that either these patents came in infected or got it at the dialysis centre. Both were notified while the contamination continued to spread.

When MOH's Director of Medical Services was briefed on 3 September, he realised that the house had already burnt down. This guy was hoping for a miracle to save his corporate bud and decided to get A*Star to verify if the strain identified by SGH in late April was indeed correct. The strain was the key and he must be hoping that it was wrongly classified. On 7 Sept, A*Star validated SGH's findings. Clutching of the straw after 4 months was futile.

Salma Khalik of SPH is the Senior Heatlh correspondent for years and years. More than 3 decades with SPH. She is well respected. She would have seen thru this, would have the right contacts to verify. She did not move. It was that explosive.

The Independent Review Committee like the review committee is only independent similar to WKS's, Deputy Secretary of MHA sitting on the Mas Selmat escape review committee. The committee did not disclose or did not cover the following areas of concern with right level of attention

1) how many transplant patients were affected
2) did not ascertain or disclose the timeline of each patients infection and death so no one has any idea how many cases and deaths could have been avoided if the right course of actions has taken place at the end of each month.
3) the Nursing standards. It appears to be glossed over despite that this was primary reason for the contamination. The chief nurse of SGH is also concurrently the Grouo Chief Nurse of Singhealth cluster.

When WP asked for a COI for this in October 2016. I was surprised as it did not seem serious. I now suspect that someone from the medical fraternity must have reached out to them.

The law is very clear. The top management has to take responsibility over any lapses and especially where there is fatalities. Come On! If this was a private medical establishment, the CEO would be indicted, name splashed in the front pages ., and the Minister (MOH) will be the one leading the charge! But when it concerns SGH?...,everyone diam diam!

 

[GoldenDragon]

Furthermore the medical fraternity is tightly knit like the legal fraternity and transplant patients dying is not something that can be kept quiet.

I have to disagree with you here. The legal fraternity, from what I know, aren't as cohesive or tightly knit as the medical fraternity. Doctors are known to be reluctant 'medical experts' against their fellow doctors in medical suits. More bastards in the legal fraternity.

 

[GoldenDragon]

The law is very clear. The top management has to take responsibility over any lapses and especially where there is fatalities. Come On! If this was a private medical establishment, the CEO would be indicted, name splashed in the front pages ., and the Minister (MOH) will be the one leading the charge! But when it concerns SGH?...,everyone diam diam!

A perfect case of cronyism.