STAFF at Changi General Hospital are coping with a sustained surge in the number of suspected Influenza A(H1N1) cases. That is partly why the mistake with the 22-year-old national serviceman occurred.
'This mistake was made. We sincerely apologise for this lapse and have already apologised to the patient and his family,' a hospital spokesman said.
'They have accepted our apology. The staff involved has also been counselled.'
CGH has now tightened up their processes by using two patient identifiers (name, NRIC or address) consistently. Tracing the people the patient has come into contact with has started.
His family members have been advised to be quarantined at home and to monitor their temperature three times daily for the next seven days. If they develop symptoms, they are to call 993 or go to the nearest hospital or Pandemic Prepared Clinic in a private transport for treatment and screening.
CGH had some 10 H1N1 inpatients admitted as at 5pm yesterday. It has tested more than 800 patients for H1N1.
NO NEED TO SEND ALL SUSPECTED CASES TO HOSPITAL
NOW that Influenza A(H1N1) is spreading in the community and the disease is mostly mild, there is no need for GPs to send all suspected cases to hospital for testing.
Doctors will exercise clinical judgment in prescribing anti-virals on a case by case basis. The patient's medical condition, risk of developing influenza-related complications and H1N1 in the community will be taken into account.
Those who develop influenza-like symptoms can visit the nearest Pandemic Preparedness Clinic (PPC) or polyclinic for initial assessment and treatment.
But if your condition deteriorates, call 995 to take you to the nearest hospital.
Most people with mild H1N1 may not require Tamiflu.
As of yesterday, there were 878 confirmed H1N1 cases here. To date, 329 patients have been discharged and the rest are recuperating.
