Minutes of Hospital Authority Board Meeting held on Thursday 25 June 2015 at 4:00p.m. in Conference Hall, 2/F, HA Building, 147B Argyle Street, Kowloon Present : Prof John LEONG Chi-yan, SBS, JP (Chairman) Dr Constance CHAN, JP Director of Health Mr William CHAN Fu-keung, BBS Ms Anita CHENG Mr CHENG Yan-kee, BBS, JP Ms Quince CHONG Wai-yan, JP Mr Andrew FUNG Hau-chung, JP Mr Ricky FUNG Choi-cheung, SBS, JP Mr HO Wing-yin Mr Lester Garson HUANG, JP Dr KAM Pok-man Ms Esther LEUNG, JP Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Treasury)1 Mrs Margaret LEUNG KO May-yee, SBS, JP Dr P Y LEUNG, JP Chief Executive Prof Raymond LIANG Hin-suen, SBS, JP Dr LO Wai-kwok, SBS, MH, JP Mr Patrick MA Ching-hang, BBS, JP
- 2 - Ms Winnie NG Mr WONG Kwai-huen, BBS, JP Prof Maurice YAP Keng-hung, JP Mr Richard YUEN, JP Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Health) Miss Margaret CHEUNG Head of Corporate Services (Secretary) Absent with : apology (*Out of HK) * Prof Francis CHAN Ka-leung, JP Ms CHIANG Lai-yuen, JP Prof Diana LEE Tze-fan Mr Stephen LEE Hoi-yin * Prof Gabriel LEUNG, GBS, JP Mr PANG Yiu-kai, SBS, JP In attendance : Dr Ian CHEUNG Representing Director (Quality and Safety) Dr N T CHEUNG Head of Information Technology and Health Informatics Dr W L CHEUNG Director (Cluster Services) Ms Clara CHIN Director (Finance) Dr T Y CHUI Cluster Chief Executive (Kowloon East) Dr C T HUNG, JP Cluster Chief Executive (New Territories East) Dr Tony KO Cluster Chief Executive (New Territories West)
- 3 - Dr C C LAU Cluster Chief Executive (Hong Kong East) Dr Theresa LI Head of Human Resources Dr Albert LO Cluster Chief Executive (Kowloon Central) Dr S V LO Director (Strategy and Planning) Dr T L LO Representing Cluster Chief Executive (Kowloon West) Dr C C LUK Cluster Chief Executive (Hong Kong West) Mr Frankie YIP Chief Manager (Corporate Communication) Dr Vivien CHUANG Associate Consultant (Chief Infection Control Office) [For discussion of HAB Paper No. 222] Ms Ivis CHUNG Chief Manager (Allied Health) [For discussion of HAB Paper No. 223] Ms Pauline WONG Chief Manager (Patient Relations & Engagement) [For discussion of HAB Paper No. 224] Mr Andy LAU Chief Manager (Boards & General) Ms Natalia LI Senior Manager (Boards & Support) Ms Eva HUI Manager (Boards & Support)
- 4 - In attendance (Attachees of the Corporate Development Programme) : Mr H L HUI Senior Systems Manager (Clinical Systems), Information Technology and Health Informatics Division, Hospital Authority Head Office Mr Anthony LAU Department Manager (Physiotherapy), Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital Ms McShirley LEUNG Senior Pharmacist, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital Ms Queenie LEUNG General Manager (Nursing), Pok Oi Hospital Ms Hester LI Senior Systems Manager (Business Support Centre), Information Technology and Health Informatics Division, HAHO Ms Rose YONG Department Manager (Dietetics), Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital
- 5 - Declaration of Interest The Chairman invited Members to declare conflict of interest, if any, arising from the agenda items of, or discussion at, the meeting. There was no declaration from Members. Confirmation of Minutes 2. The draft minutes of the Board Meeting held on 26 March 2015 were confirmed without amendments. Matters Arising 3. There was no outstanding item arising from the minutes of the last meeting. Report on Outcomes of the Administrative & Operational Meeting 4. The Chairman reported that the following matters were discussed or noted by the Hospital Authority (HA) Board at the Administrative and Operational Meeting held on 25 June 2015 : i. 2015/16 Annual Pay Adjustment of Hospital Authority; ii. Job Evaluation for Selected Chief Manager or Equivalent Roles as well as Legal Professional Positions in the Hospital Authority Recommendation and Conversion Arrangement; iii. Review of Hospital Authority Progress and Communication Plan; iv. Briefing by Government on Public Finance and Fiscal Sustainability; and v. Progress Reports of Committees of the Hospital Authority Board. The Hospital Authority s Preparedness on Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (HA Board Paper No. 222) 5. Dr Vivien CHUANG updated Members on the latest development and risk assessment of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak in Korea; and the actions taken by HA in response to the activation of the Serious (S2) Response Level on 8 June
- 6-2015. Major actions taken included universal masking at all clinical areas, observance of airborne precautions when performing Aerosol Generating Procedures, enhanced triage arrangements of patients, activation of e-mers platform, tightened visiting hours, enhanced laboratory support, stockpiling of personal protection equipment, and suspension of all medical exchange programmes and activities in healthcare institutions in Korea etc. 6. The Chairman said while there were still new confirmed cases in Korea, the number of suspected cases in Hong Kong was on a decreasing trend, from almost 30 cases per day at the early stage of the outbreak to less than 10 cases per day recently, and by far there was no local confirmed case. At the same time, however, the seasonal flu was entering into its peak season and it was expected to exert pressure on the public healthcare system. 7. In response to the enquiry from Dr LO Wai-kwok about the travel alert system, Mr Richard YUEN explained that all along Department of Health had a practice of issuing health advices to Hong Kong people on precautionary measures that they should take when traveling to certain overseas destinations, and the Security Bureau (SB) had in place a travel alert system based on security and personal safety concerns. To simplify the arrangement and to enable the travel industry to have a consistent set of guidelines to follow in case travellers wanted to cancel or postpone their travelling plan upon issue of the relevant health warning by the Director of Health, the Food and Health Bureau (FHB) and SB had agreed that in future if the public health authority, namely the Director of Health, had decided to advise Hong Kong people to avoid visiting certain destinations based on public health concerns, FHB would advise SB to issue the red or black travel warnings, as appropriate, under their travel alert system. 8. Dr Constance CHAN supplemented that the Hong Kong Government had actually taken an advance step to activate the Serious Response Level in the current MERS outbreak as compared to the past situation where Serious Response Level was usually activated only after the first local confirmed case. The early action this time was largely due to the high death rate of MERS and the rapidly increasing number of cases in Korea, involvement of a large number of healthcare institutions in Korea, proximity of Hong Kong to Korea, and frequent people traffic between the two cities. The action might have to a certain extent contributed to the decreasing number of suspected cases in Hong Kong as it helped reduce the number of Hong Kong citizens travelling to Korea.
- 7-9. In reply to the enquiry from Mrs Margaret LEUNG about the use of infra-red thermometers at the border, Dr Constance CHAN said that floor-standing infra-red thermal imaging scanners had been used at the border since 2003 and body temperature of people entering Hong Kong would be checked by these scanners. To further enhance arrangement for the MERS outbreak, with the assistance of the Airport Authority, all flights from Korea would be parked along the same group of aerobridges and all arriving passengers would be screened for fever after they passed through respective arrival gates. Additional manpower was also deployed to manage the situation. 10. While noting that HA had suspended all medical exchange programmes and activities in healthcare institutions in Korea, Mr Lester HUANG asked if visits of healthcare personnel from Korea would also be suspended. Dr P Y LEUNG replied that there was request from a healthcare institution in Korea for visiting a HA hospital s infection control facilities. The request was turned down in view of the current situation. HA would keep close eye on the development and make arrangement as appropriate. 11. The Chairman enquired about the accuracy of the handheld infra-red thermometers for detecting body temperature of travellers staying in the car passing through the border. Dr Constance CHAN responded that the hand-held infra-red thermometer was not foolproof as a patient would not have any fever during the incubation period. The accuracy could also be affected by distance. However, checking of travellers temperature at the border also served to increase travellers alertness and awareness about the situation and to provide them with necessary health-related information. (Mr WONG Kwai-huen left the meeting at this juncture.) Report on the Operation of the Community Care Fund Medical Assistance Programmes in 2014/15 (HA Board Paper No. 223) 12. Ms Ivis CHUNG briefed Members on the operation, major activities and financial position of the Community Care Fund (CCF) Medical Assistance Programmes in 2014/15, and the audited accounts for 2014/15. Members noted that a total of 4,071 applications were approved from August 2011 to end of March 2015 under the First Phase Programme of the CCF, and the total amount of subsidies granted was $308.8 million. Under the Second Phase Programme, the number of approved applications from January to 31 August 2012 was 280 and the amount of subsidies granted was $4.4 million. To recap, the Second Phase Programme ceased operation on 31 August 2012 after being
- 8 - incorporated into the Government s regular assistance programme, i.e. Samaritan Fund, from 1 September 2012. 13. Regarding potential fraud and abuse cases, Prof Raymond LIANG suggested that explanation on the possible legal liability and consequence should be given to the patients upon application in order to avoid possible unintentional under-reporting. Ms Ivis CHUNG assured that apart from giving clear explanations to the applicants by the Medical Social Workers and clerical staff during application, promotion and patient education on the post-approval checking mechanism had also been enhanced. 14. Members noted the above and approved the 2014/15 audited financial statements of the CCF Medical Assistance Programmes for the year ended 31 March 2015. (Mrs Margaret LEUNG left the meeting at this juncture.) Annual Report on Public Appreciation, Feedback and Complaints Management 2014/15 (HA Board Paper No. 224) 15. Ms Pauline WONG briefed Members on the Annual Report on Public Appreciation, Feedback and Complaints Management for the period from 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015. She also highlighted the work of the Public Complaints Committee (PCC) during the reporting period. 16. Ms Quince CHONG commended HA for the increased numbers of appreciations and less complaints. She would like to know more on the difference in the definitions of complaints and feedback, as well as the handling procedures and follow up of the latter. Ms Pauline WONG explained that there was a delicate difference between complaints and feedback, with the complainants very often were in fact seeking for assistance through the complaint channel. These cases came in the form of complaint at the beginning but were successfully resolved and agreed by the complainant as feedback. With the establishment of the Complaints and Feedback Management System, data and trends of complaints and feedback collected would be analysed for learning and sharing to prevent recurrence as well as to drive for service improvement. 17. Noting that two-thirds of the cases handled by PCC were concluded within six months, Mr William CHAN asked about the details and reasons for the relatively long processing time of the remaining one-third of the cases. Ms Pauline WONG replied that cases
- 9 - which could not be completed within the performance target of three to six months were mostly complex cases of clinical nature requiring independent expert review. To ensure justice and fairness, PCC would examine these cases in a robust and meticulous manner. The Chairman suggested that more details of these cases be shared in future reports as appropriate. Miss Pauline WONG 18. Mr HO Wing-yin said that the role of Patient Relations Officers (PROs) was very important in complaints management in HA. With appropriate skills and compassion, experienced PROs could facilitate amicable resolution of complaints. He also suggested regular sharing of patients appreciations to front-line staff for encouragement. (Ms Quince CHONG left the meeting at this juncture.) Chief Executive s Progress Report on Strategic Priorities (HA Board Paper No. 220) 19. Dr P Y LEUNG updated Members on the implementation progress of HA s strategic priorities for the second quarter of 2015 (2Q15). Among the 11 targets planned for completion in 2Q15 including five on corporate targets and six on cluster targets, 10 were achieved on schedule and one programme was in progress. Date of Next Meeting 20. The next Open Board Meeting was scheduled for Thursday 24 September 2015 at 3:30p.m. in the Conference Hall, HA Building. 21. There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:50 pm. Hospital Authority HAB\MINUTES\62 MC/NL/wm 22July 2015