Hospital Authority Chief Executive Shane Solomon has apologised over the handling of the case in which a man died after collapsing outside Caritas Medical Centre on December 20.

Speaking to reporters this afternoon he said patients' lives and safety is the authority's first priority, adding staff response should be flexible, fitting the particular situation. The response should be based on common sense and not bound by rigid guidelines.

He said Caritas Medical Centre's response to the collapsed man was inadequate.

Wrong response

"It is clear Caritas Medical Centre should have contacted the accident and emergency department and sought immediate dispatch of medical support, and straight away called 999 to request an ambulance, rather than ask the patient's son to do this," Mr Solomon said.

"Indeed the centre's doctor who fortuitously passed by the incident did what we would expect. He offered immediate assistance, rang the accident and emergency department, tried to resuscitate, and followed up on the whereabouts of the ambulance. This was the right response, but I admit this happened by chance rather than design."

He apologised to the public for creating anxiety and confusion over the authority's emergency response approach. He also apologised to the family of the deceased for their loss in such difficult circumstances.

There will be a new standard operation which will explain what sort of mindset and attitudes should be adopted in handling similar situations, he added.