A woman in Cornwall reported a serious breach of her medical privacy when a hospital employee contacted her by phone to disclose her cancer diagnosis before she had received official notification from her consultant.
The employee, whom Pippa Boardman knew only through recreational activities, accessed her records at Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro and telephoned her at home with the diagnosis information. Boardman stated that while the staff member may have had legitimate reasons to view her records as part of their work duties, contacting her directly and sharing diagnostic details was inappropriate and violated her privacy. The consultant’s official notification came two days after the initial phone call.
Boardman characterized the incident as deeply invasive and said the hospital’s response compounded her distress. She indicated that the trust initially did not take full responsibility until media inquiries from the BBC prompted a more complete acknowledgment and apology.
Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust acknowledged the incident and stated that the employee had legitimate access to records for work purposes but should not have initiated contact with the patient or discussed the diagnosis. The trust reported conducting an immediate investigation and taking unspecified appropriate action regarding the staff member involved. The hospital emphasized that it has reminded all employees of their obligations to maintain patient confidentiality and reinforced that records should only be accessed for legitimate work-related reasons.
The trust indicated it is reviewing its policies and procedures in response to updated NHS England guidance regarding unauthorized access to patient information. Officials expressed that they treated the matter seriously and apologized to Boardman for both the incident and the time required to provide her with answers.
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