Passing on personal Info... is this legal/allowed?

[TheLaminator]

Hoping someone can help me here.

I recently made a disclosure about abuse I suffered as a child to a healthcare professional.
I understand child protection issues & was aware that she had a legal obligation to pass this information on to the relevent child protection agencies.

Last week I was contacted by letter by the local constabulary where i lived as a child asking me to contact them re; information they had recieved.

To be honest, this has freaked me out a little bit. I`ve been very ill recently with issues surrounding my abuse, hence being in contact with mental health team in the first place.

Can this health care agency give my personal details out ie, name & address? I Didnt think this was allowed?

I`ve had such a hard time getting help & feel this "mis-use" (?) of my disclosure has been massivly detrimental to my well being. I have made previous complaints at a local level regaurding my care, but feel that this is possibly a step too far & maybe I should complain to a higher body?

I hope that makes sence? Its quite hard for me to write about this stuff.

Look at the ICO's website. The Information Commissioner deals with issues such as this and their website contains guidance.

Thanks Collaborate, will do.

As nurses in contact with parents and children we have a legal obligation to protect children where abuse is suspected and pass information (even personal details) onto all services, including police if necessary. We also have a legal obligation to protect personal information and not disclose to third parties!

The crunch is when we feel that there may be other children or vulnerable adults at risk, and my guess is that the HCP thought this was the case. Then we can disclose, BUT I think you should have been informed of this decision as you were not involved as a perpetrator or involved other than as a victim. That would have at least prepared you, and I think you were done a mis-service. If you were told and objected they could have gone ahead anyway.

Its all about risk assessment by the HCP and not an easy call. They should have conferred with a senior colleague anyway, but you deserve better than this and an explanation from them.