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Care Opinion

Patient confidentiality

Posted By junerx46

"Patient confidentiality"

About: Broadford Hospital, Isle of Skye

(as a relative),

I can't complain about the care my father received in Broadford hospital as it was exemplary. 

However I am disappointed in the fact that while I was awaiting a call from the Dr, a friend of my father's rang Broadford and received the information about his care and situation. They are not listed or recorded as next of kin in any way. This was deeply frustrating as they were aware I was waiting and yet they not only released the information illegally, they then didn't follow up with the actual family. 

Thankfully in this instance the friend passed the information to myself and are not a danger to my father or his property. That may not be the case if this happened again, releasing this information to an unverified stranger endangers the safety of a vulnerable person and informs the caller they will not be home for an extended period. This is an unacceptable breach of patient confidentiality and I hope valuable lessons are learned to protect patients in future. 

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Responses

Response from Sylvia Fraser, Clinical Governance Facilitator , Clinical Governance, NHS Highland 4 days ago
Sylvia Fraser
Clinical Governance Facilitator , Clinical Governance,
NHS Highland

I am part of the overall team who manages complaints for NHS Highland and are known as the Feedback Team. We offer patients, relatives, MPs/MSPs, staff and anyone who requires assistance is registering a concern or formal complaint.

Submitted on 10/05/2024 at 11:06
Published on Care Opinion at 11:06

picture of Sylvia Fraser

Dear junerx46

Thank you for your post highlighting your concerns. Please accept our apologies for the delay in responding to your complaint.

We are sincerely sorry that this happened and can confirm that we take breaches of patient confidentiality very seriously.

Your concerns have also been passed to our Data Protection Team to review and to remind staff what the formal process when enquiries are being managed.

Staff at Broadford Hospital have been reminded to confirm who they are talking to and to gain patients, or family's permission if appropriate, before any information is given out.

We would like to thank you for providing us with this feedback. We appreciate you highlighting this serious matter to us.

Thank you for your lovely compliment regarding the care your father received in Broadford Hospital. This has been passed to the Charge Nurse for cascading to staff.

I hope that your father is recovering from his admission.

With kind regards

Sylvia

on behalf of Ann Williams, Senior Charge Nurse, Portree & Broadford Hospitals

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