Do I have a right to be Angry

[Hm1987]

Bit of a long story but I have been suffering with anxiety for the last 18 months and it started in my pregnancy I felt really under pressure from work with antenatal appointments and time keeping it was a complicated pregnancy to make matters worse the department and hospital that I work for is the same one that conducted all my appointments I was relieved when I went on maternity leave anyway fast forward to the week I was due to go back I found out work colleagues had accessed my medical notes the day of my delivery and a few times around appointments people who were not involved in my care there were things on my medical records that were private I feel so let down I reported it to my boss and I was told they would all receive warnings in writing I don’t know if that happened I feel as if I have been spiralling since then my partner got diagnosed with cancer 8 months ago and is currently receiving treatment but I can’t get rid of this gut wrenching anxiety I am worried about everything it’s actually effecting my health now. I spoke to someone at work about the initial pressure I felt that kicked this off and she said it was 2 years ago I need to get over it !! Am I being over the top to have let me effect me like this ? .

I don't understand why they wouldn't be fired for this.

You were not unreasonable to have felt angry about this, and it's not unreasonable to still have some concerns about it. And the stress around your partner's cancer is no doubt triggering it.

But if it is causing you so much anxiety and anger two years later, then this needs to be addressed, otherwise you will hanging on to this for two more years, and two more years after that and before you know it a decade has past and you are still hanging on to it.

It’s happened before to another colleague and the same thing people got warnings

Yanbu unfortunately the nhs is full of nasty unempathathetic bullies who act like they are still in high school. I'm glad you told your manager it's completely unacceptable behaviour

As someone that struggles with anxiety, counselling really helps. Given your work colleagues abhorrent breach of your privacy, I'd suggest something outside of the NHS, like MIND. id understand if you wanted to wait before doing that, sounds like you've got your hands full. Anti anxiety meds can help, then perhaps consider counselling or CBT once your husband's treatment is over? X

I know I’ve lost all trust in my colleagues I don’t think they know I know I had this crazy thought that I should tell them and it may bring me some peace I don’t want to argue but to tell them how it made me feel .

There is a process to complain & in your case I would.
The hospital website should explain how to do it, and the fact that you are an employee makes no difference.

I am sorry you are going through this, it’s really shitty of your so called professional colleagues.

How did you find out your colleagues had accessed your notes ?

I’ve just finished my first counselling session and it’s brought up a lot of anger I was really upset initially but I am angry about it now it’s weird.

You need to take them accessing your notes further, this is a gross breach of data protection and your confidentiality and everyone who works for the NHS knows this. They should be sacked .

YANBU to be frustrated and let down but it is likely that you will never find out what the sanction was or wasn’t as they are not allowed to share that with you.

Where I work, if this was proven, that would be a sackable offence or at least a final warning as it’s a massive breach of privacy. I appreciate that other institutions may not feel as strongly.

as this did happen 2 years ago, you can either speak to your union and see whether they can support and advise of any grievance process as you are not happy with the outcome, or you will need to work on letting this go as it’s not right for your MH going forward.

Another colleague who had done all my postnatal appointments saw it and had a bit of a moral dilemma wether to tell me or not she did in the end

Report the data breach to the ICO
Tell them what happened, that you reported it internally but have ongoing concerns about the security of data at the trust

Yes you do have a right to feel angry. You were betrayed by people who you should have been able to trust and because it's your workplace you're reminded of it every day. Plus your partner is ill. You have a lot to be angry about. I'm glad you have an outlet to express this and process it.

I was more worried about the flack I’d get if I took it further mainly I can’t afford to leave my job right now or even look for another while my partner is having treatment we are financially screwed at the moment

I don’t work for NHS so I don’t know how the systems work but can you see who’s accessed your notes (as in what log in) etc, or is this just based on Stacy saw Brian looking at your notes? As the latter is harder to prove.

I know you said colleagues in question were not associated with your care, but are they your supervisors at work / HR / people that have anything to do with processing your leave? As they may have a valid reason for looking. If it’s just for snooping, then that is awful.

I would explore this with your counsellor.

What makes you think you'd get flak for it?

I feel resentful towards them as some of them were the same ones applying pressure when I was pregnant so I am sure I am angry about that too

none of them had any responsibility towards my care at all they were just being nosey bastards

This is a serious data breach. Complain to hospital- threaten to name and shame publically unless they show you they have taken action in line with their policy.BUT I think we all have anxiety, so I do think you need to keep a sense of proportion whilst getting the hospital to do the right thing.

I am hoping to cover this soon with them because I feel this event is what started the whole process off

I want to I am just scared of the repercussions for me as I said we have one wage coming in I cannot afford to lose my job or be forced out

Well you can’t be fired for raising a grievance in good faith, that would be retaliation which is not legal.

You can be made to feel uncomfortable but only you know what culture you work in and whether supervisors will have your back.

Your trust should have an official process for reporting a data breach of patient confidentiality

One of them is a manager she was putting pressure on me but she had no part in my care and wasn’t responsible for forms for mat leave or anything she could make things bad I’ve seen her in action