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

You have nothing to be guilty about. Karen should never have done this.

If Karen was innocently looking something up, she should have reported it and ensured she kept her mouth shut. She didn't. She was being nosey and got caught out. I can imagine, if not reported she would have kept looking until baby is here.

In my role, looking up records and sharing personal information would be instant dismissal and probably would have financial implications for the business. At the very least she needs a final warning and a talking to. What a foul woman.

They will likely change their tune if and when it comes out she’s checked their records too. I doubt you were the only person she was looking up.

You did the right thing.

She shared a piece of health news about you that you were going to share in due course - possibly why you are feeling guilty. But I guarantee you that she has shared other news too.

Ask your friends how they'd feel if they went to the clinic/hospital with an STD/diagnosis of cancer/worry about alcohol abuse/mental health issue - would they be alright with Karen telling their friends about it??? Guarantee they wouldn't. Just because it is a pregnancy doesn't make it any different.

She is unfit to work in any environment that requires confidentiality.

Don’t worry about it. You did the right thing. She knew because she works with highly sensitive confidential information that her job was at risk if she breached confidentiality - it’s totally her own fault. Looking up people she knows is bad enough but to actually tell other people about your pregnancy is absolutely outrageous and totally wrong.

This is my area if work OP (although in Australia). I can almost guarantee she'll lose her job. Not 100% certain as the decision maker may consider her personal circumstances during the procedural fairness component of the process. You probably won't hear anything until the process ends, and then all you'll likely get is that the allegations (there will be more than one, when they break it down) are substantiated. They won't tell you the penalty, but as you have mutual friends, you'll probably hear through the grapevine. Don't feel bad, this is very serious. She deserves to have the book thrown at her. I imagine your 'so called' friends would think differently if she was blabbing about their (potentially embarrassing) private medical info.

Yep, me too. It's not just the OP - quite a few other posters wrote "loose" as well

Anyway, very poor conduct on Karen's part.

But she didn’t only access files - she shared the contents of them will multiple third parties. That is absolutely unforgivable.

100% you did the right thing!

How often is she randomly nosying in files of people she knows? Did she know you had a medical app? And was that what prompted her to check? Or was she checking many people often (so your pregnancy got uncovered as part of a general scattergun approach)?

You absolutely did the right thing. She’s a disgrace.

What she’s done is disgusting . She’s not your friend so no sad loss. If your other friends are siding with her , them more fool them ( the tables may be turned one day)
She deserves to be dismissed- no patient should have their highly confidential information banded about as idle gossip !

I've not seen it happen but they say its a serious offence. She has been an idiot.

I suppose your mutual "friends" are OK with her browsing through their private medical records and gossiping about it then? Because even if she says she hasn't, and even if it hasn't come to light, the chances are that she has snooped through lots of friends' and family members' records (and talked about it). Why should she keep her job?

It is appalling manners to correct spelling/grammar like this. So inappropriate on a thread about a real issue.

And someone like her doesn’t deserve to work in the NHS. So don’t feel bad. It’s a privilege. I work with medical records. I treat those records how I would want my families records treated. With dignity and respect and accessed only when absolutely necessary. Nobody should be accessing friends and family records. Good job they do internal audits now in a lot of places so good luck being a nosy bugger to anyone else who does this as it’s instant dismissal.

She is a monumental cunt and she deserves to lose her job.
Don’t give her a second thought.

Congratulations on your pregnancy. Try to focus on the happiness your precious baby will bring you.
She does not deserve one more second in your head, the stupid bitch.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

This 😬☝🏻

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.

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?