Hospital has screwed up.

[oopslateagain]

My DD had some hospital tests a month ago and we got the letter from the consultant with the results a week or so later.

Today, a stranger knocked on our door asking if DD lived here, after an awkward moment he explained he'd had a letter delivered to him but the addressee was "parent or guardian of Miss Oops". The envelope had HIS address on - he lives at the other end of our street so just the number was wrong - but when I opened it, not only was there the letter about our DD but also another letter about another child that had obviously been put in by mistake.

Obviously I'm thankful that he was nice enough to knock on doors to try and find the right person, but I am really pissed off that the hospital put the wrong address on AND stuffed someone else's letter in too. That is a real breach of confidentiality - twice. The letters contain all the results of the tests of these children, descriptions of them, their lifestyle etc.

I've tried to ring the number on the letter (the paediatric department of the hospital) but it's constantly engaged.

WWYD?

Either contact their PALs/Complaint/Legal services department and explain that there has been a breach of Data Protection and ask what measure/process they have or will put in place to avoid such mistake happening again.

what lifeistooshort said .

That is really bloody awful

I managed to get through to Paediatrics; the secretary must have apologised about six times, she sounded horrified - it was her name on the letter but I'm not sure if she was the one who actually sent it out. She asked me to send back the letter that was for a different patient, and said measures would be taken to stop it happening again.

I know honest mistakes can be made, but I can't help feeling that if she was the one who made the mistake it will be swept under the carpet...

I have left a message with PALS.

Good for you OP for taking the time and care to sort it out. I suspect there are quite a lot of people who would just toss the second letter in the bin.

Well I've told a few friends and my mum and dad, dad thinks I'm doing right but everyone else seems to think I'm being mean to report this, the secretary might lose her job.

I am in two minds now.

I'm going to post in AIBU.

If she isn't up to the job then should she be doing it though? It will be up to her employers now to decide if it was a one off or if there are other issues and then what they will do. Unless people do let them know when there are issues how on earth can they improve things.

I wouldn't have been happy for my DS' cons letters to go else where. There is sensitive and personal information in there.

I have given the school, school nurse and after school club copies as they need them to deal with his care but that was my choice.

I would have also been concerned if I has recieved another child's personal information. Not least because it may contain appointment details/ test reults that are urgent and would be delayed in rectifying the problem.

I hope you DD gets well soon though.

Thanks. The overwhelming response seems to be to go ahead and report it. This was fairly straightforward information; cardiac test results, name, DOB, address, so it's not the sort of thing I'd be worried about if my DD's letter had gone to someone else, but it could have been much more sensitive information which would have caused major embarrassment. I'll see what PALS has to say tomorrow.

Thanks youarekidding but DD has a lifelong cardiac problem . She is bonny and well though.