A patient at Royal Cornwall hospital in Truro discovered that a hospital employee had accessed her medical records without appropriate justification and subsequently informed her of a cancer diagnosis before her scheduled consultation with her physician.
The patient, Pippa Boardman, reported that she received a telephone call at her home from an individual she knew only casually through recreational activities. During that conversation, the person disclosed her cancer diagnosis before she had the opportunity to receive formal notification from her consultant. Boardman stated she was shocked by the disclosure and the manner in which the information was conveyed to her.
Two days following the unauthorized contact, Boardman’s consultant provided her with official confirmation of a breast cancer diagnosis. Boardman, who is currently recovering from her condition, expressed concern about the violation of her privacy and described the hospital’s response as insufficient. She noted that the trust only issued an apology after being contacted by media representatives.
Royal Cornwall hospitals trust acknowledged the incident in a statement, confirming that while the employee held legitimate access to patient records as part of their duties, using that access to contact the patient and disclose diagnostic information fell outside the scope of their authorized responsibilities. The trust stated it conducted an immediate investigation following Boardman’s complaint and took appropriate action regarding the staff member involved. Hospital officials indicated they cannot publicly discuss specific employment details but emphasized the seriousness with which the matter was treated.
The trust announced plans to reinforce confidentiality responsibilities across all staff and stated it is reviewing institutional policies in light of updated NHS England guidance regarding unauthorized patient record access.
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