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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

AIBU for wanting to report this?

43 replies

goldierocks · 22/03/2018 11:09

I was on my way to work this morning, the train was packed due to an earlier broken down service.

The woman next to me removed a large pile of papers from her bag and was reading through them. She had an NHS lanyard round her neck (the name badge part was obscured by her bag).

We were really packed in. I wouldn't describe myself as particularly nosey, it was impossible not to see what was written on the forms. Just in case the picture doesn't come out, they said 'Inpatient Assessment - Confidential' and had a lot of personal info at the top. I've obscured this on the picture as best I could.

I have a disability which requires frequent hospital stays. I'd be mortified if my personal information was taken outside the hospital by a staff member.

Would this bother you? I feel I should report this to someone (PALS maybe) but am I overreacting?

OP posts:
dinosaursandtea · 22/03/2018 11:11

I’d be mortified if people were photographing it and putting it online.

makingmiracles · 22/03/2018 11:12

Yes, definately report, that’s highly unprofessional

DeathStare · 22/03/2018 11:13

YABU posting the photo

Winterfellismyhome · 22/03/2018 11:13

Packed in but enough space for you to take a photo

Twickerhun · 22/03/2018 11:13

Report it to the hospital. You shouldnt photograph it either tho

Totsntantrums · 22/03/2018 11:13

Is it possible that they were training sheets?

ShirleyPhallus · 22/03/2018 11:14

Report it and get this photo deleted. You can still see personal information on there and I’m astounded you felt the need to photograph it and then put it online. The OP without the photo would have been fine.

Ihatemyclients · 22/03/2018 11:14

I'm a solicitor and we are always told to be careful about what we read / say on trains because it can be a breach of confidentiality. I don't think your concerns are unreasonable.

JollyGiraffe · 22/03/2018 11:14

But you posting pictures of it online is OK?

You need to ask to have that deleted. And delete the photos from your phone. What on earth do you think you're doing taking photos of people's confidential medical information and posting them online?

bastardkitty · 22/03/2018 11:16

The person was breaching confidentiality and you have a duty to report them to the NHS Trust. I wouldn't go through PALS as it's not about your care as a patient. I would go straight to the Chief Exec of the Trust and make a formal complaint.

HollyBayTree · 22/03/2018 11:16

I'd feel sorry for the poor woman who has to take shit loads of work home because there arent enough NHS hours in the day. (Dittos teachers ).

In reporting something, you must have prinmary objective, so what do you want to achieve by reporting her?

Totsntantrums · 22/03/2018 11:17

I def think they are training sheets. There is no need to take this information out of the hospital otherwise.

Taylor22 · 22/03/2018 11:17

Op posts about being shocked about professional flashing one person some private info on an train by posting the info to thousands of strangers online where it's probably now been saved to be shared again.

Logic. slow clap

purplelass · 22/03/2018 11:20

Why put the photo up? We all know what paper looks like and you've now broadcast what she shouldn't have had on public display to a far bigger audience!

She shouldn't have had confidential paperwork on show in a public place but you're just compounding the situation.

How would you report it anyway? Do you know her name?

FloydOnThePull · 22/03/2018 11:22

Delete the photo from your phone and get yourself a kindle if you're so desperate for something to read on the train.

Original poster
goldierocks · 22/03/2018 11:23

The personal data has been obscured from the image.

One of my disabilities is a processing disorder. If making a complaint is the right thing to do, I wouldn't have been able to describe/recall the information on the form from memory.

Would NHS managers take the word of a random complainant (i.e. me) with zero evidence to back it up?

OP posts:
Redglitter · 22/03/2018 11:23

Really can't see why you felt the need to post the photo. As pp said it's gone from just you seeing it to everyone on here seeing it.

DharmaInitiativeLady · 22/03/2018 11:27

Definitely a training sheet/made up patient for a case study for learning purposes. No way would a real one like this ever leave a hospital.

Dangerousmonkey · 22/03/2018 11:29

No. It shouldn't be with an individual as that is already a breach in terms of data confidentiality. You can see why. How many hits does MN get? And that private detail isn't hers or yours. Awful.

MNHQ
AliceMumsnet · 22/03/2018 11:34

Hi all

We've removed the photo from the OP as this does contain information that is potentially identifying.

RavenclawRealist · 22/03/2018 11:34

I'd assume it was training sheets to be honest I can't see why else you would have this information on you also the sheets look badly filled in! Also isn't Tommy's and guys paperless now? I may have imagined that bit though!! But no if your concerns you should report it. Even if you wanted the photo for proof (while I think it's wrong I could see) but the posting it here is wrong your post would have made sense without the photo in my opinion!

Littlechocola · 22/03/2018 11:34

Both as bad as each other. Please ask for the picture to be deleted. If it was your notes you wouldn’t want a stranger posting on mn because even though you have tried to hide details you would recognise what little information you could see as being yours.

I would report though. The trust will be interested. Huge breach of confidentiality.

The poster that said that they feel for the person who has to carry work on the train as not enough hours in the day. The person will have plenty of hours to play with if they lose their job or are suspended.

Posters saying it was obviously for training purposes. Why do you think that?
We have training names and addresses that are very obvious that they aren’t real.

FizzyGreenWater · 22/03/2018 11:34

For goodness sake people you can see what it is she is trying to do/ get advice on!

Yes, OP - report. It's good that you took the photo as it clearly shows just how public an environment the employee is in. S/he shouldn't be looking at this data in this environment. The photo is good evidence.

This thread has probably served its purpose, so get this deleted too. Long shot but if the person in question read this, they would probably be able to 'recognise' the shape of their own name despite the scrub-out. So get it deleted.

Follyfoot · 22/03/2018 11:37

Yes, definitely report. I work in the NHS and I've reported breaches which have been taken seriously.

IWannaSeeHowItEnds · 22/03/2018 11:38

I think it's awful that you are considering complaining about her, having posted a photo on here. Does the irony escape you?
I feel sorry for her - she is just trying to keep up with her work and some total stranger is setting out to damage her career.