Should I complain after a nurse shared my 16-year-old's medical details?

[Midglet]

My 16yr old had an incident this week that required medical intervention. They didn’t want people, even immediate family and close relatives, to know until they had underwent the operation and we respected those wishes. However a theatre nurse recognised their name and before my child was even under anaesthetic, the nurse had texted a distant relative of ours and divulged that not only was our child in for an operation , but the nature of such. The child was in theatre for four hours but within twenty mins of them being taken in the distant relative , who doesn’t have our mobile numbers, then started calling the hospital demanding details of our child’s prognosis and treatment. Thankfully we had been tipped off very quickly as the relative started contacting other family members ( who themselves weren’t aware of the situation until they themselves contacted us to see what was happening) and were able to request staff to refrain from divulging such. After several failed attempts the relative then turned up at the hospital and demanded access to our child, by which point they were out of surgery. The ward staff asked our 16 yr old ( with us present) if they would like the relative to gain access and our child immediately burst into tears with the thought …the relative is particularly difficult at the best of times and the children try to avoid all contact by their own choice . Thankfully again the staff were able to refuse the relative entry into the ward (Although our child is 16 and should have been in the adult wards a lack of beds had resulted in them being housed in the children’s ward with better security) . Anyway I am sitting stewing about the actions of this initial theatre nurse divulging private medical information to a third party . I know this is a huge breach of confidence and I hope such would be a disciplinary if I was to raise a complaint but I don’t know if I should . The nurse is a friend of the relative hence why she reached out and my family are divided as whether to take action as it will cause trouble within the wider family. Hubby thinks I should just forget it to keep the peace but I think the theatre nurse should be made aware her actions were totally unacceptable. I’ve never complained about anything before . Your thoughts would be appreciated !

The nurse must know that divulging information regarding a patient to a third party, is a breech of trust. I'd say it's gross misconduct and probably instant dismissal.

You need to report the incident. If the nurse involved is dismissed because of it, that's not your issue. All behaviour has consequences.

The nurse has been incredibly stupid.

You need to put in a complaint now. As a HCP I can say not only has the nurse broken her trusts confidentiality policy its also a breech of NMC rukes and will result in an investigation by both and likly sacking. Is very clear to all staff that patinets confidentality is essential. I once had my husbands aunt best friend on my ward a collegue came on treat her and insaid nit a word to anyone. She was suprised my Dh didnt know she had been in when he next saw.her and he explaind it was more than my job was worth to tell him. We take it very seriously

YANBU at all, you should report her.

My husband used to be Radiographer. When a friend of mine had a stroke and was sent to him for MRI he asked her permission to tell me*. It is completely wrong to just tell all and sundry.

*she was able to talk at this point and eventually made a full recovery.

This should be reported but only with your child's consent they have already had their trust broken buy the nurse

I work for the NHS. It's a sackable offence.

I know you say you are in two minds whether to report - but as others have said it’s a huge breach that she knew she was making when she did it. It’s not a simple mistake saying something she shouldn’t - she deliberately contacted someone to tell them. She knows that is something you should never do.

Imagine your daughter was not in the children’s ward and you’d popped to the loo - the relative had arrived and just come into the ward without your daughter being asked or you there to intervene - because that could have been the scenario had there been space on an adult ward.

Hope she feels better soon x

This is gross misconduct. It’s not only about the privacy of your child but safeguarding. You absolutely MUST report this. They have overstepped. They need to be dismissed from a health care role. I’m so sorry you’ve had to go through this. Please report. Do not feel guilty they will lose their job - they deserve to.

I am not normally one to immediately jump to complaining but in this case I would. Different if she had let something slip later but she took the proactive step of messaging this relative.
Report very calmly and with all the facts.

Big breach! Confidentiality is a huge part of any hospital, and even more so since GDPR.

Complain! Complain! Complain!

I agree.

At 16 they are still a child and not an adult. However the nurse needs to be sacked as she divulged private and confidential information.

Sorry I realise now you did not mention the sex of your child.

You should absolutely report this, it is a massive breach of confidentiality. If that causes issues within the wider family, then the only person at fault is the nurse. Hope your child is ok.

Formal complaint without question .

100% you should report this. It's a huge breach of confidentiality.

Absolutely you can and should report this. That was wildly inappropriate for the staff member to share that information. Everyone who works in a medical setting would know that was unacceptable. Any consequences for the staff member will be deserved, and will be entirely of their own doing. I'm sorry you had that experience.

For the sake of your child who has had their privacy invaded, I would complain… loudly!

This absolutely needs reporting it’s a massive breach of so many things get it reported

Report definitely. It’s taken very seriously. I hope your child is recovering well

I hope your child is okay. I’m sorry that their wishes were not heeded especially at a very vulnerable time. Best wishes for her healing.

100% complain - if nothing else, it caused your daughter distress. This is a huge breach and the nurse needs to be held to account. This is not OK and your daughter needs to see you taking this (and her) seriously. If the wider family think the nurse’s action are OK, then you are better off without them in your lives.

Senior NHS clinician. Please report. We need patients and colleagues to do this to keep the standard where it needs to be. You can do this via PALS in the first instance, or have an initial conversation with the child's consultant to ask for a confidential discussion (bear in mind if you give any identifying information in that conversation, the consultant will need to raise this anyway). You can explain the family situation and ask that your name is kept out of it. We managed to see a situation through on the basis that we (luckily) were able to find some corroborating evidence (an email), so we could happily raise it without mentioning the initial patient concern.

This is a total breach of confidentiality and caused distress to your child and you. Please put a formal complaint in. Absolutely disgusting behaviour

This is awful! I’m married to a doctor and he never tells me anything, or about anyone when he knows them. And rightly so!!

I think you need to report to PALS, her NUM and even the hospital HR director asap. She shouldn’t be allowed back into the hospital until this has been thoroughly investigated. Also, don’t tell relatives that you are doing this. She will lose her job (rightly so) and the relative you phoned will send in flying monkeys to guilt-trip you. Regardless of her intention, this was a blatant disregard of privacy, which is something so integral that is drummed into every nurse and honestly every single healthcare worker, that it can’t just be a silly error of judgement, but a choice.