Senior managers at public hospitals must be held accountable for mistakes, according to medical sector lawmaker David Lam. He emphasized that accountability means taking steps to prevent errors from occurring in the first place. The Hospital Authority has committed to enhancing its governance and accountability in response to a recent review committee’s recommendations.
The review committee proposed over 30 suggestions to the Hospital Authority, aiming to improve top-level oversight for quality and safety issues. This includes clearly defining the roles, responsibilities, and authority at different levels within the organization. Lam, who is a member of the review committee, highlighted the importance of ensuring that senior management shares the responsibility for maintaining a low complication and incident rate.
“Senior management must ensure that staff are well-trained and adequately supported to prevent medical incidents,” Lam stated in an interview with RTHK. By strengthening accountability at higher levels, the burden of blame should not solely fall on frontline staff when errors occur. It is crucial for senior management to foster open communication channels among all hospital staff.
Lam stressed the need to create a culture where junior employees feel comfortable speaking up about any issues they observe. He suggested that senior staff should take the lead in encouraging frontline and junior staff to communicate with them whenever necessary. This proactive approach can help identify and address problems before they escalate into serious incidents.
In addition to promoting communication, the review committee emphasized the importance of ongoing training and support for all hospital staff. By investing in staff development and ensuring adequate staffing levels, hospitals can enhance patient safety and quality of care. Ultimately, accountability for errors should be shared across all levels of the organization, from frontline workers to senior executives.
By implementing the recommendations put forward by the review committee, the Hospital Authority aims to create a culture of transparency, communication, and continuous improvement. Senior managers play a crucial role in setting the tone for accountability and quality within the organization. Through collaborative efforts and a shared commitment to patient safety, public hospitals can strive to reduce errors and enhance the overall standard of care provided to the community.
