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Patients' confidential records found lying in the street
CONFIDENTIAL medical records with details of 19 seriously-ill York Hospital patients were found in the street two miles away.
An investigation has now been launched about how the file, picked up by a passer-by, was lost.
The document revealed their name, age and medical history – with one patient outlined as suffering from HIV and syphilis.
The patients affected were mainly elderly, except one 27-year-old. The hospital has apologised and is now investigating what happened.
Paul Ward, deputy chief executive of the Terence Higgins Trust, which campaigns on behalf of HIV and Aids sufferers, said: "This breach is totally unacceptable. For anyone with HIV who is facing stigma, having personal information about their health being inadvertently made public is very worrying."
It could be difficult for a complex organisation like a hospital to get it right all the time, he added, but people trusted them.
"If there has been a failing we ask York Hospital to redouble its efforts to make sure it is able to ensure full confidentiality in the future."
The patients involved had breast cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis. Handwritten notes found in the bundle gave details about their personal nursing care.
Mike Proctor, deputy chief executive of York Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We take the protection of all patient information very seriously and we apologise to any of our patients and their families who may have been caused distress by this potential breach of their confidentiality."
The patients concerned would be contacted and reassured, he said. Policies on staff responsibilities for such information were clear. "We are appalled that details of this nature have been found outside the hospital."
He added that the trust was investigating the incident and would take appropriate action.
City of York Councillor Sandy Fraser, who sits on York Hospital's board of governors, said he expected the matter to be discussed at their next meeting.
The papers were found by an unidentified person.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -5 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North
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Light sleet
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