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Concord International Hospital ordered to stop after lapses in patient safety

Concord International Hospital at Adam Road. (PHOTO: Screenshot/Google Maps)
Concord International Hospital at Adam Road. (PHOTO: Screenshot/Google Maps)

SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Health (MOH) has ordered Concord International Hospital (CIH) to stop all healthcare services, after inspections found that the hospital had several lapses that would affect patient safety.

The ministry said in a media release on Saturday (26 December) that it carried out inspections on the hospital – located at Adam Road – from 14 to 16 December.

It found that multiple life-saving or patient-use equipment and medications were either not maintained or not available in critical areas such as the Intensive Care Unit and the Operating Theatre.

There was also a lack of quality control in the laboratory and infection control processes, which poses significant risks to patient safety and well-being.

With effect from 19 December, CIH has stopped its healthcare services, and is working with MOH to review its lapses and processes.

It had four patients with ongoing outpatients medical appointments then, and there were no patients warded at the hospital. MOH has told CIH to review the four patients’ treatment plans and ensure proper continuity of outpatient care until it has addressed all the lapses and MOH has assessed it to be ready for operations again.

Patients who are seeking care or intending to seek medical care at CIH are advised to speak with their medical practitioners to discuss alternative plans at the other licensed healthcare facilities for the time being.

MOH said that all private and public healthcare facilities – hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and clinical laboratories – licensed under the Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics (PHMC) Act must fully comply with the Act to ensure safety and quality of clinical care are met at all times.

Those who fail to comply could face enforcement action, which may include a fine of up to $20,000 and/or a revocation of the licence.

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