Woman, 58, dies after 12-hour wait in Eastern Hospital emergency room

A 58-year-old woman has died after a 12-hour wait in the emergency room of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, where she was found unresponsive inside an accessible toilet in the waiting hall of the Accident and Emergency Department. 

According to the Hospital Authority, the woman sought medical attention at the hospital at around 11 pm on Sunday due to fever and cough. It wasn't until the following day at 11.15 am that she was called to undergo medical assessment - following a 12-hour wait. 

Further examinations were arranged for her, and she was in stable condition by then, said a hospital spokesman. 

At around 12.30 pm, healthcare staff prepared to transfer the patient for further examinations. The patient was called for in the waiting area and via Public Address System, but in vain. 

At around 1.45 pm, the patient was called again via the Public Address System, but still in vain. 

At 4.30 pm, the patient was found unresponsive inside the accessible toilet in the A&E's waiting hall. She was certified dead at 5.06 pm after resuscitation attempts. 

The hospital said it had already met the patient's family members yesterday to explain the details of the incident and expressed condolences to them. 

“The hospital will offer the necessary assistance to family members…The hospital is very concerned about the incident and has reported it to the Hospital Authority Head Office via the Advance Incident Reporting System. The case will be reported to Coroner to follow up,” a Hospital Authority statement wrote.