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

NHS worker here.

You did the right thing.

I can't believe she actually went about telling people about your medical information!!! And then shrugged her shoulders like it was nothing.

Nope.
Sack.

This is shocking -she absolutely should lose her job.

loose = not tight.

Your ‘friends’ are massively out of line here, she deserves to lose her job. I would be devastated to learn my records were being shared with other people, particularly a pregnancy. I can’t even find the words.

i am sorry this happened to you op, but you did you the right thing. Congratulations and I hope you have other friends or family that are far more loving and supportive 💐

The process can take a few weeks so leave them go do it. You might not be told the full outcome.

I managed similar cases in my role and this is likely dismissal. All are trained not to look and then absolutely not to say.

Try and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy.

Lose not loose.

The most important thing here is that you set all this aside and enjoy your pregnancy. You have done the right thing, now let it lie and look forward to your exciting future. Congratulations! Go well.

It's so common on Mumsnet, different words used ''Loose'' for lose, ''reigns'' for reins and the ''could of'' instead of '' could have''.

Whilst your mutual friends are probably on her side atm because in their eyes "it's no big deal, you'll start to show soon and it's not exactly going to be a secret at that point ", they are missing the point that all health records are confidential regardless of their nature. She would have received training to that effect and been advised of the consequences in the event of a breach. If she wanted to keep her job that badly, she shouldn't have done what she did. Sorry to say, but she deserves everything that's coming her way. Dump your so called friends.

I'm wondering the same, how many people is she regularly checking the records of hoping to find something? The investigation might turn up a very large scale breach.

How much personal info do you need to search for someone? Is thier name enough?

Also 'breach' not breech.

Breech is what you don't want in childbirth, breach is when trust is broken.

I work in maternity and wouldn't dream of ever doing this! You cannot access patient information without consent, but if she had just happened to come across your file and didn't go out of her way to look you up on E3 (system) or something, then there may not be evidence of this, however, the evidence is her telling your mutual friends which IS a complete breach of patient confidentiality and could be sackable. Everything in the NHS takes a long time, if you haven't heard back from them by next week, write a follow up email.

These people are not your friends!!!

They'd all look through someone's medical notes.

If they thought it was bad they wouldn't have congratulated you - they would have realised they shouldn't actually know and they would have just kept it to themselves.

I would pursue the complaint - but I would say everything like this takes time.

This post nails it but I would be inclined to add the names of your friends to the complaint so governance can see where she has accessed their files too.

This way, they will likely get letters to say their medical files have been accessed by your ex friend. That will put a different slant on it to them.

No-one likes to think of a mate having a gander at their medical history.

I would be prepared to die on this hill and I would throw everything I know at this complaint so they can chase up what other files she is viewing for her own prurient pleasure. Yuk.

I’d be singing like a canary. I’d also name your friends in this as she’s probably looked them up too. If there’s been a breach of confidentiality then they have to inform the person. I don’t think those ‘friends’ would take too kindly knowing it was their record she snooped on too.
You did the right thing. She can’t be trusted.

She wouldn’t be allowed to access patient records unless she has a reason to be working with that patient. She can’t just let nosiness get the better of her and have a look and then tell everyone. Imagine a friend had an Sti and the damage it would do when she discusses it. I I can see how hurt you are and she isn’t your friend and you have done the right thing.

You are in the right. I'm sorry your other friends have taken her side. They sound like clowns too. Good luck wih your pregnancy.

You definitely did the right thing. For her to find out about the pregnancy, she has been periodically scrolling through your records, along with probably countless other people, all your friends, maybe her extended family, her neighbours, colleagues…..

She is a liability and deserves it.

I saw people in the Civil Service marched out for this, the "men in black" as we called the external HR Inspectors would appear at your desk, you would be supervised collecting all your personal effects, your desk impounded, taken to a private office & within 5 minutes be escorted out of the building & not be allowed to speak to anyone or to contact them outside the office, you would also be read your rights similar to when you are arrested. I would imagine the collecting of computer data now would only take minutes, but the going through it all manually could take time, I would think you should hear something acknowledging your complaint fairly fast, but for a resolution of your complaint would take maybe a month. Very often, it appears in the local paper if someone has been dismissed for this kind of thing to act as a deterrent against other staff doing it.

Someone will look at her electronic trail and she’ll be investigated, depending on how you filed the complaint it may not have arrived with the correct team.
They’ll take this very seriously and she’ll probably be interviewed, she’ll be investigated whilst continuing to work. Unless this is a regular occurrence and she has multiple offences, then she might be suspended pending investigation.
you might be able to retract your complaint but it sounds like she’s a risk to others privacy.

Did she elaborate why she needed to know what's going on? She's not a doctor is she? Best of luck with the pregnancy, and congrats x

It's bad enough that she's looked you up on the system but what on earth was she thinking to share your pregnancy news with your (hopefully ex) friends?! Shocking behaviour.

She deserves to lose her job. What a vile woman she is. Not only snooping, but telling other people about your pregnancy!!

Do you have any of the conversations on text message to show as proof?

You should have called her out on it publicly, but getting her sacked is really a huge over-reaction, and I can't believe so many people are vindictive enough to support this.