Any advice needed regarding Doctor/Nurse - Patient confidentiality

[IAmFumingNow]

Hi
I am a regular mumsnetter and just changed my name. I was just told some information to me that was quite personal that I confided to my Health Visitor.
A woman that I worked with is studying nursing and is doing intern and voluntary work and she is still part-time at the place that I worked. 2 months ago she started at the local (she lives a few miles away) Health Visitor centre. She somehow came across stuff about me and told people at work. this is very very personal things. I finished in december after 3 years and she started a year after me but now due to her studies she works only weekends.

I want to know where do I stand regarding this on a legal matter as I am really not happy about this at all. And the fact that she is still studying yet discussing private matters about patients to mutual people we know. Please advice as I am fuming.
Thanks

As a nurse we are not allowed to tell any patient information except to fellow health care professionals who are involved in the patients care.

This person has clearly breached the code of conduct but as she is a student I'm not sure how you take this forward. You could try looking on the NMC website for guidance!

FWIW - I would be absolutely fuming. What she has done is disgraceful

Well my previous health visitor breached my confidentiallity I complained I took it as far as I could but she just denied it and never got disciplined over the matter, I was fuming but I did at least get a different and much better HV out of it.

Unfortunately unless you have proof IME it's your word against hers, they never asked the person she told whether or not it had happened!

Hi thanks for replies.
I am not someone that want to see anyone else suffer but I want her to be held responsible for her actions. She has always been a 2-faced girl and we all realised that quite soon after she started. Seeing that she will end up working in the community where we all live and have our babies she will then be discussing us and I think this needs to be stopped now before anything worse can happen.

I just need to know what the correct procedure is, do I contact my own health visitor or do I contact her university?
Thanks

This is awful for you Iamfuming

I think her behaviour was shocking and I hope you manage to find a way to resolve it so you don't feel so violated.

I would contact the practice manager where the health visitors work and the university tbh.

I wanted an apology and an assurance that her sloppiness would stop but got neither I'm afraid! She told my child minder I was pregnant and she phoned my house and told the man who answered the phone that I was pregnant - on both occasions I was about 5/6 weeks and had been informed by the gp.

I also heard her discussing other peoples confidential matters in front of me - she was in the office I was in the waiting roon and she didn't even bother to shut the door!

I would contact her university. I would make it a written complaint. Make it as detailed as you can - would any of the people that she told about you be willing to vouch for this?

the code of conduct for nurses should be the same as for qualified nurses. It is with doctors. this is outrageous.

contact the NMC for advice and her university.

That is outrageous.

Im a student nurse, if anyone one my course did this, we would be booted out of University.

Breaching confidentiality is one of the first things we learn about, it is drummed into us througout the course.

I would contact the University- its disgraceful.

Thank you for the responses. That is what I thought. Initially when I found out she will be an intern at my local centre, I was a bit worried as I knew the type of person she was and was very tempted to call the HV and explain that I do not want her near my info. But thought that she was studying to be a professional nurse. I even spoke to a good friend and colleague who said the same. No matter what she knows she is not allowed to breathe a word to anyone. Therefore was really quite shocked when someone told me earlier today and apparently she told the person I told her all this info.

I will be in touch with the necessary people after the monday.
this is suppose to be a good friday and I am so upset that I cant spend the eve proper with my husband now as just the fact that the "world" now know something that only the closest people and professionals knew. I couldnt even eat my dinner let alone see to my daughter.