Tseung Kwan O Hospital has expressed its condolences to the family of a patient with depression, after her body was found on the podium outside a medical ward two hours after she went missing.

In a statement, the hospital said the 56-year-old patient was sent to the hospital on Friday night because of drug overdose.

As the woman had suicidal risk, she was placed near the nurse station for close monitoring.

The hospital said her clinical condition and emotion had all along remained stable before she was reported missing at around 7:15pm on Sunday.

Her body was found two hours later after ward staff heard a loud noise, and she died soon after.

The hospital said it will work with the police on the case, adding that the Coroner will also follow up on the matter.

It said it is saddened by the incident, and vowed to provide all necessary assistance to the patient’s family.