I’ve reported my friend for an NHS confidentiality breech

I work in a GP surgery. We aren't allowed to access the medical records of people we know.

We also have to have a reason for accessing patients medical records, not just look at them when we feel like it, and are not allowed to discuss a patients medical record or divulge any information about them to anyone except the patient, and people they have given consent for us to speak to.

She would likely be sacked if you reported her. She's completely out of order doing this to you.

Just want to add that she must be as thick as pig shit if she didn't realise this

People generally fire themselves. That’s what she’s done here.

I've commented on this thread earlier and I wrote breech instead of breach.
Shoot me now! I too think it's rude to point out small errors when we know exactly what the OP meant.
The laughable thing is I'm a midwife so I should know the difference between breech and breach.

Op don't feel guilty, you did the right thing. She's committed a serious data breach, the stupid nosey idiot. All NHS get trained on this. Gross misconduct and deserves everything that's coming to her.

That's a huge breach of GDRP she will probably lose her job and a possible fine for the health board too

I work in poublic healthcare and this would be serious misconduct and a sackable offence in any country I am aware of.

Newsflash, some people struggle with spelling certain words. Some people have dyslexia. Some people (shock horror) may not have had the privilege of a good education. Does it mean they can’t just get some advice on a forum about something important and upsetting at a time they are the most vulnerable? This is ‘mumsnet’, it’s a forum for mums to support mums or mums to be. It’s not a forum to make others feel inadequate. @PurpleChrayn @Girlking

I work for the NHS and she almost certainly be sacked and thus may struggle to get another job. All data lookups are recorded and so her guilt can be proven easily. Yes she was wrong of course. However it will forever taint what should be a happy time for you. I hope all goes well for your pregnancy.

Have you stopped to think if the OP might be dyslexic? Those two words are often mixed up by those with dyslexia.

They won’t just be looking at her accessing your files, but all the other times she’s done this as well. I suspect, to not put too fine a point on it, she’s fucked. She knew what she was risking and did it anyway, that’s on her not you.

Investigations take time, and you may not get any update for months. I believe you can request an update if you haven’t heard back after six months.

It's easy for me to say as not my friends but you need to try and stop thinking or stressing about this. It's not good for you or your pregnancy.
She is in the wrong . It's exceptionally unprofessional what she has done .
She also took away from you the chance to tell people you are expecting. That's a lovely exciting thing. Especially first time .
These people are not good friends. They should be backing you up right now . And she should be ashamed of her behaviour.

How pathetic.

Your daft comments (because it’s more than one isn’t it) aren’t helpful at all to the OP, who is in a very upsetting situation.

Imagine trying to belittle a pregnant lady’s spelling who’s wanting advice and reassurance.

Pedants' Corner is that way -->

Correcting or commenting on SPAG is rude and inappropriate.

And this ☝🏻

I am furious on your behalf! There is no way she didn’t know that this kind of behaviour is both unacceptable and illegal. It’s drummed into them. So are the consequences of snooping AND breaching confidentiality by sharing information gathered without permission. As for your friends, you should ask them how they feel knowing that their potentially sensitive medical/psychological information has been accessed without their permission and undoubtedly shared with others…. She must have been on some kind of power trip. Is she like this in other areas?

Needs sacked on the spot more like! This is such a massive breech of confidentiality - OP you are absolutely right to report her. An incredibly inappropriate, disrespectful and stupid move on your friend’s behalf.

This 😬☝🏻

If she loses her job that is her own fault and she deserves to - how dare she share your private medical information among your friends. She will have been doing this the whole time and it will be taking them ages to cross reference who she needed to look up and where she was invading people's privacy.

How are people this fucking stupid?

Why would you risk your livelihood for the mundane kind of information that’s contained in medical records? No one is going to be wowed that you know Auntie Susan is on statins, or that your FIL has an enlarged prostate. Who cares?

Snooping to find out if someone is pregnant is particularly idiotic as any suspicions will be confirmed in a maximum of about 20 weeks anyway.

Fair play to you OP- you’ve done the right (and difficult) thing when a lot of other people would’ve just let it go.

Pedantry is bad mannered. The reason Pedants' Corner exists is to keep this type of rudeness in its own corner!

Also OP - if you hadn't reported her, she'd know everything about your pregnancy and post-natal care. From PPD to piles, excessive discharge to placenta previa, and the sex of your baby.

She'd know it ALL.

Your friends are all shit OP and they should hang their heads in shame. None of those people deserve to be dealing with sensitive information and private medical records. Those jobs are for people with integrity, honesty and a proper moral code of conduct. That is abhorrent behaviour and your friends apologist attitudes towards her behaviour are disgusting. I’d be absolutely furious and they would have it all both barrels before I blocked them all. There is absolutely no excuse for it. She’s not just done it to you either, she’s not sorry. Her lack of remorse or shame in getting your friends to gang up on you is remarkable. They’re all bullying a pregnant woman, don’t ever forget or forgive that because that’s exactly what this is. She’s in the wrong and they’re all blaming you for her actions. Don’t be held responsible for her indecency. You have 100% done the right thing. Show your child that you won’t be used or bullied and that real friends don’t behave like that.

She will have been made aware in no uncertain terms that she is prohibited from having unauthorised access to patient data. Your friends are all as toxic as each other. What a load of morally bankrupt individuals. Yes, she will lose her job but she will be well aware that she would when she did it and then to openly share the fact that she has done it is staggeringly audacious and beyond stupid. She’s betrayed your trust and spoiled your news. Unforgivable. She has no respect for you and thought you would let her walk all over you. Well done for standing up to her. Find some decent, honest and caring friends. Good luck with your pregnancy.

And there’s no feigning ignorance. We are trained rigorously NOT to access friends and family records.