83-year-old grandmother dies after hospital fails to turn on oxygen tank
PUBLISHED ON JUL 15, 2014 6:17 AM
A grandmother died from a lack of oxygen to her brain after staff transferring her from one hospital to another did not turn on the oxygen tank after putting her on a ventilator. - ST GRAPHIC
BY IAN POH
SINGAPORE - A grandmother died from a lack of oxygen to her brain after staff transferring her from one hospital to another did not turn on the oxygen tank after putting her on a ventilator.
Madam Ramasamy Krishnama became unresponsive in the three to four minutes that passed before the oxygen was turned on, a coroner's inquiry heard yesterday. No foul play is suspected.
The 83-year-old, who had been warded in June last year at Tan Tock Seng Hospital following a heart attack, was being transferred to Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital when the incident took place about a month later.
Madam Ramasamy, who had become dependent on mechanical ventilation, died a few hours after her condition deteriorated owing to "ventilatory failure" that cut off her oxygen supply.
- See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/courts-crime/story/oxygen-tank-not-turned-then-patient-dies-20140715#sthash.52eZ0PeM.dpuf
- wong chee tat :)
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Coroner's finding on elderly woman's death: Oxygen tank was not turned on
Coroner's finding on elderly woman's death: Oxygen tank was not turned on
Coroner's inquiry into death of 83-year-old woman during hospital transfer
Jul 31, 2014 6:00am
1: At 6.40pm, a three-person Mount E Novena transfer team prepares to transfer Madam Ramasamy Krishnama from TTSH to Mount E. The nurses prepare a portable ventilator and oxygen tank. They put the elderly patient on a gurney and place her on the paraPAC portable ventilator. The team hears a hissing sound, which they take to mean that the oxygen supply to the ventilator is switched on.TNP
INFOGRAPHICS: CELESTINO GULAPA
By: RONALD LOH
It was a basic task - ensuring their patients had oxygen to breathe while she was being transferred from one hospital to another.
But when the medical team heard a hissing sound, they mistook it to mean that the ventilator was already switched on.
That mistake lead to the death of Madam Ramasamy Krishnama, 83, who suffered hypoxic brain injury, which occurs when insufficient oxygen gets to the brain, in July last year.
Yesterday, State Coroner Marvin Bay questioned whether there were sufficient safeguard procedures in place during the transfer, where the roles of the medical team are critical.
He also called for a review of protocols when transferring a patient from one hospital to another.
Madam Krishnama's son told The New Paper yesterday that his mother's death had been a shock to all of them.
"All we wanted was for her to come back (from the hospital) safe and sound," he added.
Parkway Shenton, which was handling the transfer and is part of the healthcare chain with Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital and Gleneagles Hospital, said it is "deeply sorry for the family's loss" and is taking a very serious view of the incident and has since reviewed and revised its protocols that address the relevant issues.
Read the full report in our print edition on Thursday (July 31). Subscribe to The New Paper, now available in print and digital, at http://bit.ly/tnpeshop.
- See more at: http://www.tnp.sg/news/coroners-finding-elderly-womans-death-oxygen-tank-was-not-turned#sthash.zVkE6LS8.dpuf
- wong chee tat :)
Coroner's inquiry into death of 83-year-old woman during hospital transfer
Jul 31, 2014 6:00am
1: At 6.40pm, a three-person Mount E Novena transfer team prepares to transfer Madam Ramasamy Krishnama from TTSH to Mount E. The nurses prepare a portable ventilator and oxygen tank. They put the elderly patient on a gurney and place her on the paraPAC portable ventilator. The team hears a hissing sound, which they take to mean that the oxygen supply to the ventilator is switched on.TNP
INFOGRAPHICS: CELESTINO GULAPA
By: RONALD LOH
It was a basic task - ensuring their patients had oxygen to breathe while she was being transferred from one hospital to another.
But when the medical team heard a hissing sound, they mistook it to mean that the ventilator was already switched on.
That mistake lead to the death of Madam Ramasamy Krishnama, 83, who suffered hypoxic brain injury, which occurs when insufficient oxygen gets to the brain, in July last year.
Yesterday, State Coroner Marvin Bay questioned whether there were sufficient safeguard procedures in place during the transfer, where the roles of the medical team are critical.
He also called for a review of protocols when transferring a patient from one hospital to another.
Madam Krishnama's son told The New Paper yesterday that his mother's death had been a shock to all of them.
"All we wanted was for her to come back (from the hospital) safe and sound," he added.
Parkway Shenton, which was handling the transfer and is part of the healthcare chain with Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital and Gleneagles Hospital, said it is "deeply sorry for the family's loss" and is taking a very serious view of the incident and has since reviewed and revised its protocols that address the relevant issues.
Read the full report in our print edition on Thursday (July 31). Subscribe to The New Paper, now available in print and digital, at http://bit.ly/tnpeshop.
- See more at: http://www.tnp.sg/news/coroners-finding-elderly-womans-death-oxygen-tank-was-not-turned#sthash.zVkE6LS8.dpuf
- wong chee tat :)
S'pore 'must stay the course' on restructuring
S'pore 'must stay the course' on restructuring
Joanna Seow The Straits TimesSunday, Aug 03, 2014
Singapore must stay the course on its restructuring journey, even though it may not be a painless or instant one, labour chief Lim Swee Say said yesterday.
"I firmly believe that we are heading in the right direction," he said.
Even though there is still much work to be done in some sectors, such as construction and retail, the move towards productivity improvement and innovation is gaining momentum, added Mr Lim, who is secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress.
To improve, the jobs that are created must be above the national average in terms of productivity and the value they add.
At the first of the labour movement's National Day observance ceremonies, held at The Promontory @ Marina Bay, he told reporters: "Our business cost and wage cost are going up, so we are becoming a higher-cost location for doing business. But being a higher-cost location does not mean being a high-cost location."
Speaking to an audience of 7,000 comprising workers and their family members who had gathered for a picnic, Mr Lim also said that Singapore needs to keep one step ahead of the competition by doing things other people cannot do, so that the profitability for businesses and the wages of workers can continue to improve.
Separately, in his written National Day message to unionists, Mr Lim said that a higher re-employment age for older workers and a more progressive wage ladder for low-wage workers will make Singapore's labour situation even better.
Under the Retirement and Re-employment Act, which kicked in in 2012, bosses must offer healthy workers who have performed satisfactorily re-employment from the ages of 62 to 65, or a one-off payment. But calls have been made to raise the ceiling to 67, and a tripartite committee is discussing when and how to do so.
Mr Lim also said separately that progressive wages are applicable to workers at all levels. "For us to succeed at restructuring, we have to find ways to make better use of every worker because of the tight labour market."
The progressive wage model sets out career ladders with benchmark wages for resident workers - Singaporeans and permanent residents - in various sectors.
Adopting the scheme is mandatory for licensed cleaning companies, and this will soon apply to the security sector as well. Discussions are under way about the need for a progressive wage model for the landscaping industry.
Mr Lim, who is Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, shared in his message that he told international union leaders in June about Singapore's low unemployment rate, its growing employment rates for women and mature workers, and how wages were rising faster than inflation.
"I hope the next time when we share our Singapore Story with tripartite leaders of other countries, it will be an even better story," he added.
Only a minority of countries will succeed in creating enough jobs, both in number and quality, said Mr Lim. "I believe Singapore will be one of them."
While employers agree with the need to improve productivity, many are at a level where, without additional manpower, they feel unable to grow their capacity, said Association of Small and Medium Enterprises president Kurt Wee.
He added that although the association tries to help members make use of available government assistance programmes, it still comes across some who are unable to take on additional orders.
"It still feels like productivity doesn't happen overnight and sometimes, businesses wonder if it will happen at all," he said.
joseow@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on August 3, 2014.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.
- See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/spore-must-stay-course-restructuring#sthash.WQpdq43a.dpuf
- wong chee tat :)
Joanna Seow The Straits TimesSunday, Aug 03, 2014
Singapore must stay the course on its restructuring journey, even though it may not be a painless or instant one, labour chief Lim Swee Say said yesterday.
"I firmly believe that we are heading in the right direction," he said.
Even though there is still much work to be done in some sectors, such as construction and retail, the move towards productivity improvement and innovation is gaining momentum, added Mr Lim, who is secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress.
To improve, the jobs that are created must be above the national average in terms of productivity and the value they add.
At the first of the labour movement's National Day observance ceremonies, held at The Promontory @ Marina Bay, he told reporters: "Our business cost and wage cost are going up, so we are becoming a higher-cost location for doing business. But being a higher-cost location does not mean being a high-cost location."
Speaking to an audience of 7,000 comprising workers and their family members who had gathered for a picnic, Mr Lim also said that Singapore needs to keep one step ahead of the competition by doing things other people cannot do, so that the profitability for businesses and the wages of workers can continue to improve.
Separately, in his written National Day message to unionists, Mr Lim said that a higher re-employment age for older workers and a more progressive wage ladder for low-wage workers will make Singapore's labour situation even better.
Under the Retirement and Re-employment Act, which kicked in in 2012, bosses must offer healthy workers who have performed satisfactorily re-employment from the ages of 62 to 65, or a one-off payment. But calls have been made to raise the ceiling to 67, and a tripartite committee is discussing when and how to do so.
Mr Lim also said separately that progressive wages are applicable to workers at all levels. "For us to succeed at restructuring, we have to find ways to make better use of every worker because of the tight labour market."
The progressive wage model sets out career ladders with benchmark wages for resident workers - Singaporeans and permanent residents - in various sectors.
Adopting the scheme is mandatory for licensed cleaning companies, and this will soon apply to the security sector as well. Discussions are under way about the need for a progressive wage model for the landscaping industry.
Mr Lim, who is Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, shared in his message that he told international union leaders in June about Singapore's low unemployment rate, its growing employment rates for women and mature workers, and how wages were rising faster than inflation.
"I hope the next time when we share our Singapore Story with tripartite leaders of other countries, it will be an even better story," he added.
Only a minority of countries will succeed in creating enough jobs, both in number and quality, said Mr Lim. "I believe Singapore will be one of them."
While employers agree with the need to improve productivity, many are at a level where, without additional manpower, they feel unable to grow their capacity, said Association of Small and Medium Enterprises president Kurt Wee.
He added that although the association tries to help members make use of available government assistance programmes, it still comes across some who are unable to take on additional orders.
"It still feels like productivity doesn't happen overnight and sometimes, businesses wonder if it will happen at all," he said.
joseow@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on August 3, 2014.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.
- See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/spore-must-stay-course-restructuring#sthash.WQpdq43a.dpuf
- wong chee tat :)
Tougher requirements needed to become a public accountant
Tougher requirements needed to become a public accountant
The more stringent registration requirements for public accountants include the mandatory requirement that applicants have specific audit management experience, said ACRA.
SINGAPORE: The requirements have been raised for those applying to become public accountants. Starting from February next year, they will need to accumulate around five years of work experience before they can apply to become public accountants - up from about three years currently.
The more stringent registration requirements for public accountants include the mandatory requirement that applicants have specific audit management experience, the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) said on Friday (Aug 1).
ACRA said that from Feb 1, 2015, all applicants who want to become public accountants must have gained 2,500 hours of experience in audit management, which would take about two years. In order to ensure that the audit management experience is gained at an appropriately senior level, the 2,500 hours will only count after an applicant has completed his professional accountancy training.
In addition, the applicant's experience needs to be supervised and attested by an Audit Principal, who is someone with at least five years of experience as a public accountant and has a good track record with ACRA.
Speaking at the Auditing and Assurance Conference organised by the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA), ACRA chief executive Kenneth Yap said the change will ensure closer alignment of the practical experience requirements with a public accountant's core responsibility of ensuring high quality audits.
"Audit is a cornerstone of public confidence in capital markets. We must ensure that audits in Singapore remain of the highest quality. Audit opinions rest on sound judgement and healthy scepticism, the application of which can only be gained through adequate and relevant experience," he said.
In Singapore, only a public accountant or an accounting entity approved by ACRA may provide an audit opinion on financial statements.
ACRA said the revised requirements were drawn up in consultation with the professional accountancy bodies and representatives from both large and small audit firms. It added that a public consultation was also conducted in 2012, which showed broad support for the proposed new requirements.
"It's definitely a step in the right direction; and it's in line with international practices and education standards," said Loh Khum Wai,Country Managing Partner (Singapore), Ernst & Young.
- CNA/ek/rw
- wong chee tat :)
The more stringent registration requirements for public accountants include the mandatory requirement that applicants have specific audit management experience, said ACRA.
SINGAPORE: The requirements have been raised for those applying to become public accountants. Starting from February next year, they will need to accumulate around five years of work experience before they can apply to become public accountants - up from about three years currently.
The more stringent registration requirements for public accountants include the mandatory requirement that applicants have specific audit management experience, the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) said on Friday (Aug 1).
ACRA said that from Feb 1, 2015, all applicants who want to become public accountants must have gained 2,500 hours of experience in audit management, which would take about two years. In order to ensure that the audit management experience is gained at an appropriately senior level, the 2,500 hours will only count after an applicant has completed his professional accountancy training.
In addition, the applicant's experience needs to be supervised and attested by an Audit Principal, who is someone with at least five years of experience as a public accountant and has a good track record with ACRA.
Speaking at the Auditing and Assurance Conference organised by the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA), ACRA chief executive Kenneth Yap said the change will ensure closer alignment of the practical experience requirements with a public accountant's core responsibility of ensuring high quality audits.
"Audit is a cornerstone of public confidence in capital markets. We must ensure that audits in Singapore remain of the highest quality. Audit opinions rest on sound judgement and healthy scepticism, the application of which can only be gained through adequate and relevant experience," he said.
In Singapore, only a public accountant or an accounting entity approved by ACRA may provide an audit opinion on financial statements.
ACRA said the revised requirements were drawn up in consultation with the professional accountancy bodies and representatives from both large and small audit firms. It added that a public consultation was also conducted in 2012, which showed broad support for the proposed new requirements.
"It's definitely a step in the right direction; and it's in line with international practices and education standards," said Loh Khum Wai,Country Managing Partner (Singapore), Ernst & Young.
- CNA/ek/rw
- wong chee tat :)
System Status: Fan Maintenance
System Status: Fan Maintenance
Cleaned them and weed out those dust bunnies accumulated.
- wong chee tat :)
Cleaned them and weed out those dust bunnies accumulated.
- wong chee tat :)
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