October 06, 04:50 PM 
514 Chai Chee Lane 03-16, Singapore 469029 This following article is based on reports from Channel News Asia, Today and The Straits Times.
The Singapore General Hospital (SGH) on Tuesday afternoon apologised after four patients in the same ward, who suffered from the Hepatitis C virus, passed away earlier this year.
The four were also ill with other serious co-existing conditions, such as pneumonia and severe sepsis — an immune response to an infection — but were among 22 patients in the hospital's renal wards (64a and 67) who were infected with the Hepatitis C virus.
In a media briefing, the hospital said it had noted an increased frequency of hepatitis C virus infections in early June in the two wards where the 22 were staying, between April and June this year. Ward 67, in particular, was newly-renovated.
It believes that the infection could have been spread through the use of multi-dose vials, saying that their initial investigation "indicated that the source of infection might be due to intravenous (IV) injectable agents".
With the discovery of the infection, the use of multi-dose vials in the renal ward was stopped from June 10 to June 23. The hospital also said, according to local media reports, that it is contacting patients who stayed in the two wards between January and June for Hepatitis C tests as well.
Doctors and nurses working in those two wards during the period will also be tested for the virus, SGH reportedly said.
A further three deaths from among the 22 infected patients were found to have no link to the infection, following evaluation by a Medical Review Committee chaired by an external senior hepatologist recommended by the Health Ministry. One more patient's passing is currently being reviewed.
SGH also said at the time that it stepped up checks for the virus in patients with abnormal liver function tests in the same ward.
Prof Fong Kok Yong, chairman of SGH’s Medical Board, said that there is "no conclusive evidence" yet that could point to the source of the Hepatitis C infection as investigations are still ongoing.
SGH CEO Prof Ang Chong Lye said: "We would like to apologise unreservedly for the grief, pain and anguish this has caused our patients and families."
“Patient safety is non-negiotiable. What happens to our patients is always our responsibility.”
Meanwhile, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong expressed his grave concern and disappointment over the cluster of infections:
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Posted by Channel NewsAsia Singapore on Tuesday, 6 October 2015
All this leaves us with a few questions, though:
- When exactly did these patients pass away, and why didn't the hospital make this detail clear?
- Why did the hospital wait so long before disclosing the fact that the Hepatitis C infection had spread among the patients in those two wards? (Bear in mind that the first diagnoses took place in June, by the way)
- Have they contacted all the patients who have passed through those two wards during the period? What if some who were infected have since gone on to spread it to others?
- How will the hospital account to families of the patients who have fallen victim to this infection? Will there be any compensation for them?
Hope to hear from you folks soon, SGH.
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