NHS Grampian has come under fire after accidentally sending a patient’s confidential records to an MP.
In another data blunder for the health board, the information was sent to Douglas Ross with correspondence about another patient he is attempting to assist.
The Moray MP has now demanded a full investigation into the breach, and wants assures it will not be allowed to happen again.
Earlier this year, boxes of patients’ private health records were discovered in a hospital corridor at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
Mr Ross said he had been in touch with the health board on behalf of a constituent, and was shocked when the reply also contained information about another patient from Aberdeen.
He said: “I received a letter from NHS Grampian relating to a Moray resident whose case I was pursuing.
“The reply arrived in my Forres office, but also included three pages of private and confidential information about a patient who lives in Aberdeen.
“It is appalling that this can happen and I am calling for an urgent review of NHS Grampian’s procedures to ensure that systems are put in place to prevent this happening again.
“Many people seek my help to raise issues with NHS Grampian, but patient details in my office are kept secure and confidential and I would expect the health board to be every bit as diligent, but clearly, this is not the case.”
The details includes the patient’s full name, address, date of birth and medical history.
Mr Ross added: “I want absolute assurances from NHS Grampian that this will be investigated urgently because it is simply unacceptable.
“I have raised this directly with the senior management at NHS Grampian and expect a full explanation about how this could happen and what they will do to ensure that a similar breach of data is not repeated.”
In February, boxes of private health records were left unattended in a hospital corridor at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
A shocked member of the public spotted at least six boxes of documents that included patients notes and were in the corridor for at least a week before being removed.
Some of the boxes were open and marked health records, with envelopes of notes from various wards clearly seen.
At the time, NHS Grampian said they were “disappointed” at the failing and insisted: “We regularly train our staff in the importance and procedures covering data protection for the people we serve, and will continue regular training and awareness raising.”
And last night a spokeswoman stressed: “We take patient confidentiality extremely seriously and work closely with elected members to ensure that strict consent procedures are followed when they raise issues with us on behalf of their constituents.
“We are concerned to hear that these do not appear to have been followed on this occasion and are reviewing the circumstances to ensure this cannot happen again.”