SINGAPORE — The Singapore General Hospital (SGH) said it has accepted the findings and recommendations of an independent committee tasked by the Ministry of Health (MOH) to review the hepatitis C virus outbreak at the hospital earlier this year.

SGH said it would look into the areas identified by the committee on top of the enhanced practices and additional measures it has taken since June.

SingHealth, parent organisation of SGH, has also appointed a human resource panel to examine the roles, responsibilities and actions of key SGH staff, and assess if disciplinary actions need to be taken.

The panel will be chaired by Ms Euleen Goh, SingHealth Board Director, and comprises Ms Yong Ying-I, Permanent Secretary (Public Service Division) and Dr Tan Yew Oo, a medical oncologist in private practice.

Mr Peter Seah, Chairman, SingHealth Board of Directors, said: “The SingHealth Board takes a very serious view of the infection outbreak and the issues highlighted by the Independent Review Committee. As the SingHealth management looks at strengthening the system for surveillance, escalation and infection control, it is important for us to draw lessons from this unfortunate event.”

SGH, together with the SingHealth Infection Control Audit Taskforce, will also conduct cross-institution audits to reinforce the standards of infection control practices.

A Report Implementation Committee has been appointed by SingHealth to follow up on the independent review committee’s recommendations. It will take a proactive audit approach to tighten surveillance and enhance infection control at the affected renal wards, as well as build a robust comprehensive system for infection control, said Professor Fong Kok Yong, Chairman of SGH’s Medical Board.

It will also work with the MOH to facilitate a cross-institution framework for the detection, investigation and management of uncommon infections.

Both SingHealth committees are led by Prof Tan Kok Hian, SingHealth Group Director, Academic Medicine and Head and Senior Consultant, Perinatal Audit and Epidemiology, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, KKH.

SGH Chief Executive Officer Ang Chong Lye said in a statement: “My colleagues and I deeply regret what happened. I would like to apologise to the patients and their families who have been affected by the outbreak.

“It has been a hard and humbling lesson but we will learn from this, improve and work tirelessly to ensure that our patients are always safe in our care. We are determined to regain the trust of Singaporeans, whom we have been most privileged to serve.”

Responding to concerns from the public on the time taken to announce the outbreak, SGH said it “has reflected on our response and approach”. The hospital acknowledged that it “could have done better and escalated the matter earlier to SingHealth and MOH”.

“We have met with all the affected patients and their family members or next-of-kin to provide them our full support. We are grateful for their patience and understanding; and will continue to care for them and assist them with their medical and emotional needs,” added the hospital.