A patient at Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro experienced a significant breach of medical privacy when a hospital employee contacted her by phone to disclose her cancer diagnosis. The employee, whom the patient knew only casually through a shared recreational activity, had accessed her medical records without authorization for that purpose, despite having legitimate work-related access to her file.
The patient, identified as Pippa Boardman from Lostwithiel, received the unsolicited call informing her of her diagnosis days before she was scheduled to meet with her consultant to receive official test results. Boardman described the incident as invasive and distressing, stating it compromised her dignity and privacy. She noted that the hospital trust did not apologize until after she contacted the BBC regarding the matter.
Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust acknowledged the breach and stated that while the staff member had legitimate access to records as part of their employment, contacting the patient and discussing her diagnosis fell outside their role. The trust conducted an immediate investigation following Boardman’s complaint and took what it described as appropriate action, though it did not disclose specific details regarding employment consequences.
The hospital trust announced it has reminded all staff of their obligations regarding patient confidentiality and that medical records must only be accessed for legitimate work-related reasons. Additionally, the trust indicated it is reviewing its policies and procedures in response to updated NHS England guidance on inappropriate access to patient information. The organization expressed sincere apologies to Boardman for the incident and for delays in providing her with answers. Boardman reported she is recovering well from her cancer diagnosis.
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