A patient at Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro experienced a significant privacy breach when a hospital employee accessed her medical records without appropriate authorization and disclosed her cancer diagnosis to her before she received results from her physician.
The patient, identified as Pippa Boardman from Lostwithiel in Cornwall, reported that she received a phone call at home from an individual she knew casually through recreational activities. The caller informed her of her cancer diagnosis several days before she was scheduled to receive test results from her consultant. Boardman stated she was shocked by the contact, noting that she had barely known the person who called her.
Boardman subsequently received confirmation of her breast cancer diagnosis from her consultant two days after the initial phone call. She reported being in recovery following her cancer treatment. However, she expressed significant distress over how the hospital handled the matter, stating that the institution’s response intensified her trauma. She noted that the trust only issued an apology after BBC reporters contacted them about the incident.
A spokesperson for Royal Cornwall hospitals trust acknowledged the breach, stating that while the staff member had legitimate access to the patient’s records as part of their regular duties, contacting the patient to discuss the diagnosis fell outside the scope of their role. The trust indicated that an investigation was conducted promptly after the patient raised concerns. The hospital confirmed that appropriate action was taken, though specific details regarding employment matters were not disclosed. The trust stated it has reminded all staff of their confidentiality obligations and is reviewing policies in light of updated NHS England guidance on unauthorized record access.
Boardman emphasized the invasive nature of inappropriate access to personal medical information, expressing concern that others may not fully understand how distressing such breaches can be for patients.
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