To think that this should not have been discussed with anyone but me?

[MacDuffsMuff]

I'm really pissed off but need to know if I'm overreacting.

We lived with MIL for 6 months while renovating our house, we moved out over 5 years ago. During that time I had an operation so my home telephone number was her number but all records were changed when we moved into our house.

I have been waiting for an appointment for something that I haven't told MIL about. Firstly, because I have nothing really to tell her until after I've had some further tests and secondly because I know that she worries.

The hospital called today to offer me an appointment and they called the old number - fine, mistakes happen. However, when they asked for me and MIL told her that I was her DIL and no longer live there they gave her the details for the appointment to pass on to me. MIL asked the receptionist what the appointment was for and she told her. I'm pissed off for a number of reasons, firstly because now MIL is worried, but I don't think they should be discussing my appointment with anyone but me.

I really feel that I want to complain about this (I'm not a complainer at ALL) but I feel so mad about this.

It doesn’t make you an arsehole OP.
Imagine that was a situation where your MIL was abusive, has now found out you hadn’t told her about something specific and now your home life could be impacted negatively.
(Terrible example but hope you get my point!)

Confidentiality is there to protect.

My dad has been getting letters from the local hospital for another man with the same name for the last year. Admittedly dad’s name is probably quite common (not quite Dave Smith but not far off). He has complained numerous times direct to the hospital and via his GP (who has also complained) but he keeps getting appointment letters for this other man with personal details, and it’s quite possible the other man is receiving stuff meant for my dad too.

I'd be fuming. X

Are you absolutely sure that your MiL is telling you the truth? She may well have said she was you, or allowed the caller to misunderstand.

I sorry I'm a bit late to you but only just just seen this thread. I've had very similar during the summer where secretary discussed my personal information following surgery but then also read a letter out to my son. The complaint procedure has been awful. The secretary essentially told the investigating officer that my son and I share the phone number (we don't) and that as we lived together (we don't) and as it was a serious issue (it was and had been ignored for a year) it was ok to give this information. I'm not going to say anymore on a public forum apart from ask "how can an NHS employee lie so much"

I hope you get the outcome you should get. It is terrible being treated like this by the one organisation you should be able to trust.

I would raise my concerns and Let it go. I know it is very annoying. However the NHS have plenty to do atm. I would be going on the basis that No actually harm has been done.

It's better to inform the hospital that it's happened and was inappropriate. You can't comment on what was said on either side, just say what details your MIL received about your appointment and let them check into it from that.

Data breach and totally unacceptable. Please consider making a complaint.

NHS Worker here. I have to complete 'Information Governance' training every year. It covers exactly the scenario described by OP. This is an appalling breach of duty.

I'm really surprised they've done that and I'd be really pissed off too. I've answered calls for my husband before from the hospital and they won't tell me anything at all. That's a real breach in data protection.

It's definitely a breach as they shouldn't have asked her to pass along the details, even if your MIL had offered, they definitely shouldn't have disclosed the reason.

It's worth complaining about, not to cause trouble but to get an apology, which you rightly deserve and hopefully it was a one off and not a symptom of a sloppy culture.

This happened to me a few months ago, and I put in a complaint but nothing was done about it

It is a very serious breach of confidentiality; in the op's position I would be inclined to find out who it was who telephoned - not difficult - and speak to them directly so they don't do it again.

I've said this before, but I'll say it again.
It's only a breach IF the MiL really did say that she wasn't the OP. And we only have her word for that.

It's equally possible that when the caller asked if she was speaking to the OP, the MiL said yes. The only other check would be the usual one of the birthday, and MiL would know that.

It would be wrong to jeopardise the NHS person's career unless you are certain that the MiLs story is true.