Breaching confidentiality

[Tigswig]

Can you breach confidentiality if you don't identify a person in any way? I'm a nurse and I found out that a patient's daughter went to the same school as me but not at the same time and mentioned it when I was on the phone to my dh. I said "it's a small world, I met someone on the ward who went to my school but a long time after I left" and then reminded him to buy cat food.
I've now been accused of breaching confidentiality and I am waiting to hear if I will be disciplined. I didn't identify the patient or her daughter in any way so did I breach confidentiality?

I agree, “someone” on the ward could have easily been another staff member, contractor, a visitor, a relative of a patient, anyone in the world. Not great, but if you didn’t give any further info and used exactly that wording I think you are fine. I assume that even in a tiny school that you probably attended more than five years ago would give at least 50 individuals who you may have seen on the Ward. However if the patient themselves overheard you they may think you have or would divulge further information, especially if they’ve only heard a snippet in passing.