I’ve reported my friend for an NHS confidentiality breech

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I have a (now ex) friend who works for the NHS who works as a clerical officer who we’ll call Karen. I’m in the early stages of pregnancy and haven’t told anyone other than my dh. Had my first midwife appointment and since this, I’ve had some congratulations texts from people within my friendship group. When I queried how they knew I was pregnant, they said they heard it from Karen. When I asked Karen about this she said she saw it on my file, and shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal. I’m really upset that she’s just looked me up on her hospitals system like this. She works where my appointments are and openly said that she’s done this and has done it to a few of us in the group so she knows what’s going on. It’s my first pregnancy and I’m so anxious and I’m so upset so many people know about it.

At the time I was so angry I instantly filed a complaint to the hospital. Information governance then contacted me to say they’d be conducting an internal audit. This was 3 weeks ago and I’ve not heard anything since. I’m still upset with Karen but I now feel so guilty I’ve done this. I don’t want her to loose her job. Karen knows I’ve done this because I’ve told her and she’s livid and none of our mutual friends are talking to me now.

Is there anyone here who works for the NHS who can explain what happens in these situations? I’m guessing everything is fine because I’ve not heart anything from information governance since but I’m so worried

Oof, that’s rough. No NHS knowledge sorry, but don’t feel bad. She was way out of line. You could maybe have tried flagging it with her first but would she have listened? She sounds a bit thick to be honest.

I think you were right to report your friend.

That was unforgivable of her.

It's her own stupid fault OP, didn't blame yourself. She'll get what she deserves and hopefully serve as an example to others to respect confidentiality. I'd be livid if someone accessed my records in this way.

I wouldn't feel guilty and she should loose her job, when you join the NHS, one of the first things you learn in your training is that you CAN NOT use your details to access someone's record if you are related or know them and must not use it for personal reasons, she is wrong and it's not acceptable

If she loses her job it's her own fault, not yours. You've done nothing wrong. I'm sorry you've experienced this.

Well done. Don't feel guilty when she gets the sack, it's utterly deserved

She's broken the law and it sounds like she has done this multiple times. She should absolutely loose her job over this.

She needs a warning and retraining. You were right to highlight it.

You have every right to be upset and angry over this.
Any personal data should only be viewed by those who need to see it. If she was fling your notes etc that's valid but there is no excuse for having a look at records of people you know justto be nosy. And any info viewed should be in strictest confidence.

I don't know why you are feeling guilty. What she has done is a really serious breach of professional behaviour.
She has shown herself as not fit for the position she holds.
Congratulations on your pregnancy OP.

I'd imagine she'll lose her job, but that's on her, not on you. If your friends think you've done something wrong, you have the wrong friends.

I would be surprised if she wasn't sacked. It's taken very seriously.

Accessing files that are not necessary is a huge no and as far as I'm aware a massive breach of gdpr. Especially to then discuss what she's read.
I don't feel she will come out of this with just a warning if their investigation shows what she's done.

I can’t believe your friends have stopped talking to you, she is so out of order! Very unprofessional and I hope she gets sacked.

Don't feel bad, she deserves what is coming to her. The rules about information governance are there for a reason.
I had a similar thing happen to me. I was under the crisis team, and a friend was worried about me. He knew someone that worked for the crisis team I was under, and got told info on me (he told me stuff I had only told them). He would not give me their name though, so I didn't have much to go.

Why are your friends not talking to you when she's done the same to them?

I work for the NHS and this would be considered a serious breach of confidentiality. Information governance will be able to audit her access on the various systems. She will definitely be disciplined if not dismissed. She will have been made well aware of this in her mandatory training. Accessing your own medical record is a potentially sackable offence let alone others.

My mum worked for the NHS. A colleague in her workplace found out through records that someone she knew was pregnant and told someone else. It got back to the pregnant woman. She complained about the breach and the colleague lost her job. This is going back about 20 years so things may be different now.

Stop feeling guilty! She should lose her job and it's her own fault if that happens. What she did was so unforgivably wrong I would not want her as a friend anymore. And if your other friends are taking her side you are better off without them too.
Congratulations on your pregnancy, I hope all goes well. You will soon have a bunch of new friends through parenting groups.

Your mutual friends have stopped talking to you!? Seriously? Your friends are shit. This happened in my friendship group and we all stopped talking to the cheeky cow going through people’s medical records. Why has everyone decided that this is fine for her to do? And she told everyone your pregnancy news… i’d have to send a very stern and quite hurt group message about their behaviour toward you.

I would be furious. That being said in my organisation accessing a medical file without cause (very easy to trace) is very likely to result in dismissal for gross misconduct and would be noted on any future reference. I would probably have been furious and warned that there should be no further access and if there was then I would report.

Forgot to say, to those friends who have sided with her - when they have the chance to think this through they will feel deeply uncomfortable at her accessing their medical records for a browse.

They’ve said what she’s done is bad but me reporting her is worse because she can loose her job

She will be sacked. Our secretary, who had worked in dept 20 + years, was called in for an HR interview and instantly dismissed for similar. I suspect ICT are looking at what records she’s been accessing to build a case to dismiss.