Does this come under data protection?

[daisya]

Hi again,

A friend has asked my advice but I'm not quite sure what I would do about this myself so thought perhaps the more knowledgeable on here would be kind enough to comment.

Her GP sent for a choose and book appointment for her but apparently they were holding back appointments at the time but said the hospital would contact her. They did about a week later by telephone and gave her an appointment for the clinic and said they would send the details through the post.

Last week she received the details but they were for a male patient for the same clinic, same date and the appointment before hers. The details came through on the choose and book form which had his reference number, his name and GP surgery etc. The second piece of paper with it usually contains the password for that person but she isn't sure what was on that sheet as she quickly wrote a note sending everything back asking for them to send her details through.

My friend is now concerned that her details may have been sent in similar circumstances to the other person with her reference number for access online and (maybe) the password included. Is this breach of data protection act?

She asked what she should do about it and if she has any redress regarding the hospital making this serious error and not taking enough care with patient details. Can you suggest what she should do please, many thanks for your help.

[237SJ]

I would say yes, they did act contrary to the Data Protection Act rules. That doesn`t mean that her details have beens send to any other person though.

[237SJ]

*been sent*. Blasted typos!

[Hopkirk]

Life's too short to worry about such things.

[joko]

its just an appointment system though...you cannot view any information about him, nor he about you, other than the clinic name - which is obvious anyway, and your name and address - which is not a secret and can be seen in any phone book...

if she is expecting some sort of cash for this then shes got no chance - no harm has been done....

i would however flag this up to the clinic etc - and they clearly need to be more careful - presumbaly the receptionist just put the letter in the wrong envelope - so its likely a one off...

[parkie]

The same thing happened to my wife last year. You don't live in Colchester, by any chance do you, daisya?

[237SJ]

Joko - just the fact that the name of that patient has been connected to that clinic is in breach of the Data Protection Act. I did a course about this at work last year. It turns out that the the way we had been working was in breach of the Data Protection Act. The act has been much more restrictive in recent years.

[netibiza]

Agree with Hopkirk, move on.

[joko]

237 - agreed. its wrong and needs addressing, but its just a clerical mistake.

if i found out that mr j stubbs from colchester has attended a clinic for his heart - so what? what so i care? what can i do with that info?

my point is that no actual harm has been done here, so what possible redress can daisy expect ?
compensation? not likely.

its not like someone has not been given the correct treatment, or missed a diagnosis or something - its an appointment book.

[bednobs]

you cant really legislate for someone putting the wrong piece of paper in the wrong envelope