Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Ethical dilemmas

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

707 replies

Midglet · 29/08/2026 10:00

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 !

OP posts:
fashionqueen0123 · 30/08/2026 10:08

TheOnlyWayIsIlford · 30/08/2026 09:54

How her employer acts is not your responsibility.

And PP with experience in the area on this thread have said she would be disciplined but not sacked.

Your DH is not putting your child first.

Complaining isn’t hard, you just write out what happened exactly as you explained here. (Include the info that from the outset your Dc wanted confidentiality and burst into tears.

I feel sorry for your child if fear for toxic family and people who acted very wrongly is prioritised over their interests.

What do you think your child will learn from this?

Come on OP: why post? Everyone here has said it’s serious and must be reported.

All of this. I feel sorry for the teen now. Imagine your mum putting some old aunt who was totally out of line before you! I’d never forgive my parent.

unsevered67 · 30/08/2026 10:08

I worked for the NHS and it receives many inappropriate complaints. But this is absolutely outrageous. It’s very worrying she would treat patient confidentiality so casually, and she shouldn’t be working in that position if she doesn’t understand this. I think you have to complain. I’m fairly sure there will be other examples of her crossing boundaries. She would lose her job I suspect. But she shouldn’t be working in such a sensitive area if she can’t keep her mouth shut.

Dollydishcloths · 30/08/2026 10:09

Report her! She deserves to lose her job - she knows exactly what she’s done is illegal and doesn’t deserve to call herself a nurse!
You owe it to your child to do the right thing.

ItsGetKirstyIn · 30/08/2026 10:09

Midglet · 30/08/2026 09:42

UPDATE
Thank you everyone for all your advice with comments overwhelmingly agreeing I should take it further .

However I am truly gutted about the comments on here ( granted they are in the minority) citing my original post was rage bait. Unfortunately this genuinely happened this week. I referred to my child in the original post as ‘they’ to protect their identity. I had never met the theatre nurse in question before and as the hospital is over 75miles from our house I did not expect to have any mutual acquaintances with the staff. The theatre nurse was in the background whilst I was present and at no point did she introduce herself or identify themselves to either myself or my child as having any association with the relative, who is a very opinionated great aunt of my child who lives in the locality and with whom we have very limited contact (Children haven’t seen her in over a year) . My child had been in surgery for less than an hour when another relative contacted me and could tell me the exact nature of the operation my child was undergoing at the time after the aunt had contacted her demanding an update. The aunt confirmed to the other relative she was informed of my child being in hospital, the incident that caused the required medical treatment AND the nature of the operation required by her ‘friend’ ( who she named) who was present in the operating theatre.
My husband remains dead against me raising this with the appropriate authorities and it’s already caused friction in our house . I am useless at complaining and have never done so before but I am angry at the actions of this theatre nurse. Whilst I would really like to put my big girl pants on and complain i am worried the nurse would lose her job which would obviously be catastrophic for anyone and would be content if I knew management would just make her aware how inappropriate and unethical her actions were but not knowing how her bosses would react is making me hesitant .

Edited

Whilst I would really like to put my big girl pants on and complain i am worried the nurse would lose her job which would obviously be catastrophic for anyone and would be content if I knew management would just make her aware how inappropriate and unethical her actions were but not knowing how her bosses would react is making me hesitant

She might lose her job? Good! She should do!

She doesn't need making aware of this, she already knows - the importance of confidentiality is absolutely drilled into medical staff. And this isn't something minor, it's right at the most serious end of the scale.

And it's not even carelessness - she actively went out of her way to ring your relative. She knows full well it's extremely wrong, she just cares more about gossip than the wellbeing of her patients, that's all. Get her gone.

Hariboastros · 30/08/2026 10:13

fashionqueen0123 · 30/08/2026 10:08

All of this. I feel sorry for the teen now. Imagine your mum putting some old aunt who was totally out of line before you! I’d never forgive my parent.

It is so sad, yes.

Let’s hope if OP and her husband don’t grow a spine her 16 year old goes and reports it by themselves.

Although they absolutely shouldn’t have to!

PrayForPlagues · 30/08/2026 10:17

Midglet · 30/08/2026 09:42

UPDATE
Thank you everyone for all your advice with comments overwhelmingly agreeing I should take it further .

However I am truly gutted about the comments on here ( granted they are in the minority) citing my original post was rage bait. Unfortunately this genuinely happened this week. I referred to my child in the original post as ‘they’ to protect their identity. I had never met the theatre nurse in question before and as the hospital is over 75miles from our house I did not expect to have any mutual acquaintances with the staff. The theatre nurse was in the background whilst I was present and at no point did she introduce herself or identify themselves to either myself or my child as having any association with the relative, who is a very opinionated great aunt of my child who lives in the locality and with whom we have very limited contact (Children haven’t seen her in over a year) . My child had been in surgery for less than an hour when another relative contacted me and could tell me the exact nature of the operation my child was undergoing at the time after the aunt had contacted her demanding an update. The aunt confirmed to the other relative she was informed of my child being in hospital, the incident that caused the required medical treatment AND the nature of the operation required by her ‘friend’ ( who she named) who was present in the operating theatre.
My husband remains dead against me raising this with the appropriate authorities and it’s already caused friction in our house . I am useless at complaining and have never done so before but I am angry at the actions of this theatre nurse. Whilst I would really like to put my big girl pants on and complain i am worried the nurse would lose her job which would obviously be catastrophic for anyone and would be content if I knew management would just make her aware how inappropriate and unethical her actions were but not knowing how her bosses would react is making me hesitant .

Edited

Don’t be so wet, OP. What on earth do you mean you need your ‘big girl pants’ to complain? Your child is a minor and needs you to speak up for them in a horrendous situation.

As for your husband, he isn’t the boss of you. You are not nearly as angry about this as you should be. Why on earth are you feeling sorry for the nurse?

Honestly, pull yourself together.

TheSlyFox · 30/08/2026 10:17

Can I check I understand this correctly? The theatre nurse was supposed to be part of the team caring for your child and instead of doing their job they were on their phone massively breaking your child’s right to confidentiality. How can you be on the fence about reporting this? They knew it was wrong. Also they may access your child’s records and continue to update your relative on this if you don’t say anything or share something else they find!

Alittlefrustrated · 30/08/2026 10:20

OP this is a CHILD we are talking about. This nurse is a safeguarding nightmare.

OhYeahOhYeah · 30/08/2026 10:22

Midglet · 30/08/2026 09:42

UPDATE
Thank you everyone for all your advice with comments overwhelmingly agreeing I should take it further .

However I am truly gutted about the comments on here ( granted they are in the minority) citing my original post was rage bait. Unfortunately this genuinely happened this week. I referred to my child in the original post as ‘they’ to protect their identity. I had never met the theatre nurse in question before and as the hospital is over 75miles from our house I did not expect to have any mutual acquaintances with the staff. The theatre nurse was in the background whilst I was present and at no point did she introduce herself or identify themselves to either myself or my child as having any association with the relative, who is a very opinionated great aunt of my child who lives in the locality and with whom we have very limited contact (Children haven’t seen her in over a year) . My child had been in surgery for less than an hour when another relative contacted me and could tell me the exact nature of the operation my child was undergoing at the time after the aunt had contacted her demanding an update. The aunt confirmed to the other relative she was informed of my child being in hospital, the incident that caused the required medical treatment AND the nature of the operation required by her ‘friend’ ( who she named) who was present in the operating theatre.
My husband remains dead against me raising this with the appropriate authorities and it’s already caused friction in our house . I am useless at complaining and have never done so before but I am angry at the actions of this theatre nurse. Whilst I would really like to put my big girl pants on and complain i am worried the nurse would lose her job which would obviously be catastrophic for anyone and would be content if I knew management would just make her aware how inappropriate and unethical her actions were but not knowing how her bosses would react is making me hesitant .

Edited

Despite her being extended family, she deserves to lose her job, as she has broken the law!

We need to be able to fully trust our NHS are protecting our data/privacy/safety and this is why she needs reporting.

You need to advocate for your child, and everyone else too.

Imagine what other information she may have shared of friends/family/ neighbours before now…..

Kay69 · 30/08/2026 10:23

Is this even true. I doubt it. If it was true you or the 16 year old wouldn't need to ask if should complain.
I doubt a theatre nurse would have time to text anyone let alone chance losing their job!!!

WhosGotTheKeysToMyBimma · 30/08/2026 10:24

I don't want to pile on but she SHOULD lose her job!

All health care staff know this is wrong, it's drummed into them from day 1. She didn't accidentally text sensitive personal information, it was deliberate.

Who else has she done this to who don't have the right information to report?

I think you have an obligation to your child to follow this up. Don't be a let down, do the right thing even though it's hard.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 30/08/2026 10:25

@Midglet - you don’t decide the outcome, you just report your concerns and let the health board and professional body investigate.

What message are you sending to your dc if you don’t do this? That they, their privacy and their feelings don’t matter?

in all likelihood you will never see the member of staff again, however they will probably continue to breach patient confidentiality and put others at risk.

This is a no brainer. You really do have a huge obligation to report what has happened.

MyOtherProfile · 30/08/2026 10:30

Safeguarding exists for a reason. Imagine the patient was actually NC with a relative because of SA and the nurse did this, alerting people to their whereabouts.

It probably is a sackable offence, and rightly so. However I suspect she would just get a totally justified reprimand.

Please do report the incident. She has really behaved badly. How will your DC trust hospital staff in future if you let this drop? Put your child first.

Brackenandbrave · 30/08/2026 10:30

So, just re-reading the original post…
this relative started calling up the ward, you requested that the staff don’t tell her details, then she turned up, was unwanted, your child was upset? Then the staff refused her entry…

hmm, so did the staff not have alarm bells going off at any point when this drama was unfolding! Did you keep totally quiet and not say anything?

regardless of whether you put in a complaint or not, would the staff not likely raise their own investigation as this is very very unusual and definitely raises concerns in it’s own right.

Also, not a single person on this thread thinks you should just leave it. It would be very very wrong not to report this. Someone needs to advocate for your child, or you risk losing their trust. This could have implications for any future hospital stays or interactions with medical professionals, and they may never trust yourselves or their medical team again.

CaptainMyCaptain · 30/08/2026 10:30

OhYeahOhYeah · 30/08/2026 10:22

Despite her being extended family, she deserves to lose her job, as she has broken the law!

We need to be able to fully trust our NHS are protecting our data/privacy/safety and this is why she needs reporting.

You need to advocate for your child, and everyone else too.

Imagine what other information she may have shared of friends/family/ neighbours before now…..

The nurse isn't a relative she told a relative.

CatFairy · 30/08/2026 10:31

OP, I’ve read your update.
Please, please do take this further. I understand how difficult it feels when one is not the type to make a fuss; and then your family dynamic compound this. Nonetheless, there is only one right choice to make here, which is to take it further. If you wish, add that you personally wouldn’t want the nurse to lose her job and just want processes to be reviewed and training to be given so this never happens again (the actual outcome is out of your hands but things would be thoroughly reviewed and you could be confident that the nurse would only lose their job if it was unsafe for patients for them to continue working).

You can also explain you wouldn’t want your name to come in (the hospital will have their own internal patient safety concern process and the fact this relative was calling and turned up when no family had told her your child was in is more than enough for that to be instigated from the internal framework).

The theatre nurse has shown a truly dangerous lack of judgement here and it is not safe for this incident to be swept under the carpet. You, as your child’s advocate, owe it to them to do this. Future (and potentially past, as this is often a pattern) patients would also thank you.

After this horrible experience, imagine how much the validation of receiving an acknowledgement and apology from the hospital could help your child. How it could help your child to know steps were being taken to stop this happening again – to them (heaven forbid) or anyone else.

If you don’t, you are communicating to your child that you would rather kowtow to your husband’s unreasonable wishes and a stranger’s welfare than stand up for them when something very wrong was done to them. Their privacy and safety were violated when they were at their most vulnerable. If this was you, would you then want to go back for another treatment at the same place if you ever needed or would you be terrified? Would you confide in your mother again? Perhaps worse, would you internalise that behaviour and go into adulthood having learnt a message never to rock the boat, even if this is at the expense of your own wellbeing and that of any future dependents?

I apologise that this may come across as harsh. I feel for you and you must be in turmoil. It can be hard to see things when you’re in the middle of things, not least after the horrible stress of the operation itself. But from the outside, trust me when I say it is abundantly clear there is only one good choice to make here. I wish you all the best.

Lievre · 30/08/2026 10:32

Second post from me as a theatre nurse/RGN. Please please do the right thing and report this! Do it for all patients everywhere.
I occasionally come across friends, neighbours, colleagues etc on operating lists and proud to say that (AFAIK) full confidentiality is maintained before, during and after by the whole theatre team. The fact that colleagues present for treatment at our hospital demonstrates unwavering trust.
That of course applies to all our patients too. Not negotiable.
Quite shocked at your experience tbh. It’s not your fault OP - fault lies with the nurse and your well out of order aunt.

Zanatdy · 30/08/2026 10:35

if she loses her job, that’s on her. I am a civil servant and everyone in my dept knows that certain actions lead to dismissals. This was a huge breach of your daughters GDPR and quite frankly your DH needs to put his daughter first her as its a gross invasion of her medical records and privacy, and this nurse does need a disciplinary or dismissal.

Sometimeslifeishardbutwecarryon · 30/08/2026 10:36

Sezza57325 · 30/08/2026 09:49

Why are you worried about the nurse losing their job though? You don’t know them. It won’t be your fault if they face consequences, it will be their own fault for knowingly breaking confidentiality. You absolutely need to report this. Stuff your husband

Agree. The nurse could do this again and another child and parent could suffer this very out of order indignity. There need to be consequences, even if just a warning, temporary removal from role or de-registration.

LIPFearFactor · 30/08/2026 10:39

Midglet · 30/08/2026 09:42

UPDATE
Thank you everyone for all your advice with comments overwhelmingly agreeing I should take it further .

However I am truly gutted about the comments on here ( granted they are in the minority) citing my original post was rage bait. Unfortunately this genuinely happened this week. I referred to my child in the original post as ‘they’ to protect their identity. I had never met the theatre nurse in question before and as the hospital is over 75miles from our house I did not expect to have any mutual acquaintances with the staff. The theatre nurse was in the background whilst I was present and at no point did she introduce herself or identify themselves to either myself or my child as having any association with the relative, who is a very opinionated great aunt of my child who lives in the locality and with whom we have very limited contact (Children haven’t seen her in over a year) . My child had been in surgery for less than an hour when another relative contacted me and could tell me the exact nature of the operation my child was undergoing at the time after the aunt had contacted her demanding an update. The aunt confirmed to the other relative she was informed of my child being in hospital, the incident that caused the required medical treatment AND the nature of the operation required by her ‘friend’ ( who she named) who was present in the operating theatre.
My husband remains dead against me raising this with the appropriate authorities and it’s already caused friction in our house . I am useless at complaining and have never done so before but I am angry at the actions of this theatre nurse. Whilst I would really like to put my big girl pants on and complain i am worried the nurse would lose her job which would obviously be catastrophic for anyone and would be content if I knew management would just make her aware how inappropriate and unethical her actions were but not knowing how her bosses would react is making me hesitant .

Edited

Anything that happens to her is due to her actions, not yours. We get yearly, very clear mandatory training on information governance and data protection. She made that choice in full awareness of why it’s not ok and what the consequences would be. You can’t control the outcome. You just need to provide the information. What happens then is down to the NHS process.

Why is your H concerned? Does your son want to make a complaint? Have you shown your H this thread to show him that overwhelmingly, people think this needs to be reported?

People need to trust that their information is confidential in the NHS. You will be doing a hard thing. But it is the right thing.

OhYeahOhYeah · 30/08/2026 10:43

CaptainMyCaptain · 30/08/2026 10:30

The nurse isn't a relative she told a relative.

Semantics. Either way she needs reporting x

TrojanDonkey · 30/08/2026 10:48

Your child is more important than keeping the peace.

Cantyouseethishorselovesme · 30/08/2026 10:56

Put yourself in your child's shoes, OP. Being taken into hospital for an emergency operation is one of the most stressful things anyone can face, and at that age, it’s got be terrifying. To discover that a member of the medical staff has gossiped about their condition and treatment to anyone would add another layer of stress.

It's even worse that the news spread to other relatives, when you clearly intended to keep it private until you were ready to share it.

If the Theatre Nurse gets fired, that's her fault. She made the decision to cross clear boundaries. As other PP have said, what she did could have had a devastating impact on someone trying to stay under the radar of an abuser.

It sounds as if Great Aunt is a bully who's used to getting her own way. When she kicks off, everyone wants to appease her so they a) don't rock the boat or b) avoid being ripped to shreds. Is that why your DH doesn't want to get involved? Because if the nurse gets sacked, Auntie will turn her wrath on him?

ErNo20 · 30/08/2026 10:57

Midglet · 30/08/2026 09:42

UPDATE
Thank you everyone for all your advice with comments overwhelmingly agreeing I should take it further .

However I am truly gutted about the comments on here ( granted they are in the minority) citing my original post was rage bait. Unfortunately this genuinely happened this week. I referred to my child in the original post as ‘they’ to protect their identity. I had never met the theatre nurse in question before and as the hospital is over 75miles from our house I did not expect to have any mutual acquaintances with the staff. The theatre nurse was in the background whilst I was present and at no point did she introduce herself or identify themselves to either myself or my child as having any association with the relative, who is a very opinionated great aunt of my child who lives in the locality and with whom we have very limited contact (Children haven’t seen her in over a year) . My child had been in surgery for less than an hour when another relative contacted me and could tell me the exact nature of the operation my child was undergoing at the time after the aunt had contacted her demanding an update. The aunt confirmed to the other relative she was informed of my child being in hospital, the incident that caused the required medical treatment AND the nature of the operation required by her ‘friend’ ( who she named) who was present in the operating theatre.
My husband remains dead against me raising this with the appropriate authorities and it’s already caused friction in our house . I am useless at complaining and have never done so before but I am angry at the actions of this theatre nurse. Whilst I would really like to put my big girl pants on and complain i am worried the nurse would lose her job which would obviously be catastrophic for anyone and would be content if I knew management would just make her aware how inappropriate and unethical her actions were but not knowing how her bosses would react is making me hesitant .

Edited

Report her. She should be sacked or at the very minimum investigated.

IJustMight · 30/08/2026 11:00

Your husband is prioritising everyone BUT his daughter.

Report her. Tell him to do one if he gets upset; he's not the boss of you and he is dead wrong on this.

Swipe left for the next trending thread