Fastener Loosening Causes HK Hospitals Stop Using Gamma Ray Scanners

The gamma ray scanners supplied by GE Healthcare to 6 Hong Kong public hospitals are suspected of fastener loosening risks and may even causing the injury of patients, so the use of scanners are requested to be stopped immediately. Part of the patients not in emergent cases will be asked to change the dates of examination of bones, cardiac muscles, and thyroid gland.

The gamma ray scanners involved are mostly used in the examination of bones, cardiac muscles, and thyroid gland. 6 public Hong Kong hospitals are using the model, including Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Queen Mary Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Price of Wales Hospital, North District Hospital, and PMH.

HK Hospital Authority days ago was informed by the supplier of the fastener loosening risk in the scanner, which may cause the patients to be injured. However, it is believed that the issue is not related to the main components inside. For safety reasons, the authority temporarily stops the use of the model and will not approve to use it again until the supplier disseminates their staff to complete safety check.