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 !

I’m struggling to see how any nurse would think this is anything other than a sackable offence. Why on earth would they do it ?

I am non- medical but work within NHS. This is a serious breach of GDPR and absolutely needs to be reported. Do not protect this person, your child is the one who should be protected and their feelings are priority. Absolutely disgraceful behaviour.

File an official complaint. The nurse’s actions were over the line and in the US violate laws on health information privacy. The privacy policies and laws are in place exactly to prevent this type situation.

Yes, you need to make a complaint. For many reasons but most of all for your child’s sake. They need to know that you have got their back and that it is not acceptable for them to be treated like this. You are not the one who has caused trouble. The nurse / friend of the family member has done that.
Please, please report this.

I work in the NHS definitely report

You absolutely should report this. A similar thing happened to me and I didn’t but wish I had as it caused me so much anguish. I had recently separated from my now ex husband and I had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Had to have a mastectomy. When I woke after the surgery I saw in the recovery room a nurse who was a friend of my ex. Didn’t think anything of it, had other things on my mind. But when I was taken up to a ward guess who appeared…my ex. Hadn’t told him, I had told very few people, really horrible situation and certainly not what I wanted at that time. SO YES REPORT IT, HOW DARE THEY!

How do you know it was that nurse?

I’m amazed at this. Of course report, if it happened.

Is it bad enough you want her sacked? Or you could speak to her yourself? X

Nope. This needs to be a formal complaint. This is gross misconduct and breaks data protection laws. It’s extremely serious. If the OP feels able she should make a formal complaint. It’s very important that things like this don’t fly under the radar. Otherwise public trust in the NHS is diluted. That could compromise people’s health and safety.

It's a sackable offence. Many NHS workers on this thread have urged the OP to report it. She shouldn't have to deal with it herself by talking to the nurse ffs.

I'm a registered nurse. This is a huge breach of confidentiality and is such a serious offence that she could lose her NMC pin for. This is really serious. Please report it. We are in a position of trust and she's abused that. And don't feel guilty she knew what she was doing was wrong. Hope all is okay with your daughter.

Absolutely.

This is a total breach of confidentiality, and as the patient is still considered a minor at under 18 it is extra serious. It needs reporting, the GMC should be informed.
This is illegal, not only gross misconduct.

This is shockingly unprofessional behaviour and I would definitely complain.

She is in a HUGE position of trust. Confidentially is paramount here. She needs to be reported and hopefully struck off. I'm a health professional and this is serious misconduct.
Please report her. The consequences are already evident. I'm totally shocked that anyone could do this.
No one else should have to go through what your daughter has. I'm so angry on your daughter's behalf.
Hope your dd is fully recovered soon.

When I was heavily pregnant, I was chatting to our next door neighbour in the street, only for him to say “so I hear Wednesday’s the big day then!”

That was the day booked for my planned c/s - and NOBODY knew but us and the person having our children for us. And he said it in front of our children too (who didn’t know, our youngest was very worried about me being in hospital). I was livid. Turns out his wife (consultant) had seen my name on the theatre list and told him! I didn’t do anything about it because she was a friend and they lived next door!

in your position? Without that close link - yep, without question I would report! Straight away.

This is gross misconduct and could have devastating consequences for patients .

Jesus Christ. That’s absolutely terrible. Neighbor or not, I would have raised merry hell.

Really? A “pay out”??
sorry, but I find this really crass and disproportionate. So the “pay out” will come from precious NHS money?

However, this is a massive breech of confidentiality and the individual must be reported. The hospital also need to do their own internal investigation to try and improve their systems and protocols as this is really really serious.

But a payout?

Yes. No one holds the nhs accountable and that’s why they get away with so much bollocks and poor treatment.

As the child was upset by this, I think you should take it further. You don't have to explain yourself to any family member for doing so.

But in this case it is an individual that should be held accountable.
sorry but I don’t have much time for ambulance chasers. A pay out is appropriate when a mistake has been made that will affect an individual’s quality of life moving forward. It’s not appropriate in this case

It isn't the OP's place to 'want her sacked' or not - that is entirely the decision of the employer.

And the OP doesn't know the nurse. The nurse is a friend of a difficult and unpleasant relative for whom they do not even have contact details.

A really serious and upsetting wrong has been done to the OP's child, causing them distress and upset and as a nurse pp pointed out this could seriously affect their relationship with healthcare professionals in future.

Imagine: In a couple of years OP's Dc refuses go to the sexual health clinic in case a nurse calls her relatives....

Think on.

I wonder if "relative" means "parent?"